Coalition closer as Adams to step back

Posted by Jim on September 9, 2017

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams has made the first step in his gradual
withdrawal from front-line politics in a historic shift which he
believes will help pave the way for a new generation of party leaders.

Mr Adams ended years of speculation over his leadership by confirming
that he will set out his future intentions at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis
[annual conference] in November, a move which will lead to him stepping
aside from the day-to-day political work.

The announcement came at Sinn Fein’s annual ‘think in’ at the Citywest
Hotel in County Meath. Mr Adams said he would detail the party’s
“planned process of generational change” after November.

At the same event last year, both Mr Adams and lifelong ally Martin
McGuinness indicated that they were working towards retirement. Mr
McGuinness passed away in March, and it is now thought likely that Mr
Adams will begin to take on an ambassadorial or honorary role.

Commentators also believe a ‘new generation’ of party figureheads will
be in a stronger position to negotiate possible coalition deals, without
the distraction posed by the allegations of IRA activity often directed
against Mr Adams.

At the party gathering, the 68-year-old told grassroots members of a
plan to achieve “strategic objectives” that includes an “orderly
leadership change”.

He said that if again confirmed as party leader at the Ard Fheis in
November, as expected, he “will be setting out our priorities and in
particular our planned process of generational change, including my own
future intentions.”

Mr Adams said the plan was “about preparing the party for the next ten
years and to ensure that we are better able to achieve our strategic
objectives”.

It is the first time he has indicated a timeframe for the transition,
which could potentially see Sinn Fein’s next leader in the Dublin
parliament become Tanaiste [Deputy Prime Minister] in a future coalition
government under Fianna Fail’s Micheal Martin.

Senior Fianna Fail figures have stressed that as long as Gerry Adams
remains as Sinn Fein leader, the party would be blocked from supporting
them in a coalition government because Mr Adams would then automatically
take on the role of Tanaiste.  Despite two decades of peace work, that
would still be politically unacceptable for many Fianna Fail members.

‘TOXIC’

However, another series of bullying allegations against Sinn Fein
management cast a shadow over Mr Adams speech and undermined the
prospects of coalition.

Earlier this week Lisa Marie Sheehy, Sinn Fein’s youngest elected
councillor in the 26 Counties, resigned from the party, citing a
“bullying culture” and a “toxic atmosphere”.

It is estimated about 20 Sinn Fein councillors in the South are
currently affected by various disputes, out of a total of 159, amid
claims of bullying, sham investigations, kangaroo courts, whispering
campaigns and diktats.

A number of senior Sinn Fein politicians, including Martin Ferris,
Pearse Doherty and David Cullinane, have been implicated in the
increasingly public disputes. Ms Sheehy, a 23-year old Limerick
councillor and postgraduate student of politics, described the process of
investigation as a game of “pass the parcel”.

Prominent Tipperary councillor Seamie Morris said his mental health had
been affected by the party’s “dirty tricks”, while Westmeath councillor
Paul Hogan claimed he had received a death threat.

Senior Fianna Fail figures have denounced Sinn Fein’s Machiavellian
approach to internal party dynamics as “cult-like” and requiring
fundamental change before coalition can be considered.

Sinn Fein has denied there is a problem. In each of the instances, a
spokesperson has insisted the issue is localised and a result of
constituency splits, personality disputes, or communication issues.

Questioned about the latest incident by journalists at the ‘think-in’,
Mr Adams responded to the allegations of bullying from Sheehy by
insisting that no such culture exists.

“There is no culture of bullying within Sinn Fein and it’s actually
very unfair to the members of this party that this allegation has been
made,” he said.