parliament to be dissolved and call an election likely to take place
this month, which is expected to see his Fianna Fail party ejected
from power.
Amid public outrage at his government's handling of the devastating
economic crisis, Cowen is to seek the dissolution of parliament from
President Mary McAleese and call a general election widely expected on
February 25.
Fianna Fail is heading for its worst-ever electoral defeat after a
brutal recession which forced Ireland in November to agree to loans
worth 67.5 billion euros ($92 billion) from the EU and IMF as part of
a rescue package.
Cowen had originally called the election for March 11.
But he has been forced to bring it forward after the Green party
withdrew from government 10 days ago in protest at a botched cabinet
reshuffle, leaving the centrist Fianna Fail ruling in a minority
government.
Cowen, who has been the target of much public anger for his
government's handling of the crisis, was also forced to step down as
head of his party, although he has remained prime minister.
Cowen said on Monday that he would not be standing in the election,
telling local radio station Midlands 103 that his "political career
comes an end with the calling of this election."
If the party -- which has dominated Irish politics for decades --
loses power as expected, it will be the first government to have
fallen because of the eurozone debt crisis which has battered the
single currency.
Ireland was the second eurozone country after Greece to seek a bailout.
The likely winner of the election will be a coalition involving Fine
Gael and the centre-left Labour party, headed by Fine Gael leader Enda
Kenny.
Two polls on Sunday showed Fianna Fail heading for a drubbing at the
hands of angry voters.
A MillwardBrown Lansdowne poll in the Sunday Independent newspaper had
Cowen's personal rating at 10 percent and dissatisfaction with the
government at 95 percent, the highest ever.
It showed Fine Gael at 34 percent, with Labour on 24 percent and
Fianna Fail at 16 percent.
And in a Red C poll for The Sunday Business Post, Fine Gael was on 33
percent, Labour 21 and Fianna Fail 16.
The upper house of the Irish parliament voted through a finance bill
key to securing the bailout late Saturday, preparing the ground for
Cowen to seek the dissolution of parliament.
All the main parties agreed that passing of the bill, which brings
into force measures from the government's harsh austerity budget,
before elections was necessary.
After the government lost its majority, opposition parties insisted
that the legislation be pushed through as fast as possible so
elections could be called.
