The current leader of the oposition party, Fianna Fail TD Michael Martin strongly believes that he will lead the party into the next General Election in 2016.
Mr Martin made the announcement recently after allegations that current party members have unambiguously voiced their concerns over the last few days over their apparent “disappointment” and frustration at Fianna Fail’s continued downward spiral in the latest opinion polls.
However Mr Martin has strongly insisted he is under no pressure and has repeatedly denied that the upcoming Carlow-Kilkenny by-election is a “must win” in order to retain his leadership of the party. Mr Martin made his comments during an interview with the Irish Independent, Mr Martin also said that he is extremely confident that he will lead the Fianna Fail party into the next General Election.
Mr Martin told the newspaper: “In Bobby Aylward, we have a very strong candiddate in Carlow-Kilkenny. He is popular, I have been down there. it is early days yet, it will become competitive given the fragmented landscape that we are in,” he said at the launch of the Fianna Fail’s programme events to commemorate the 1916 Rising.
“We will outperform the polls in the next general election, and of that I am certain. And we know from research across the country we are doing quite well in some areas of the country, but in other areas we have to pick up clearly.”
The next General Election is expected to be held in early 2016 to coincide with the one hundred year anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.