Irish PM Bertie Ahern to Resign May 6 on Corruption Charges

Ireland’s prime minister, Bertie Ahern, who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland but couldn’t survive corruption allegations over his collection of cash from businessmen, announced Wednesday at a surprise news conference, he would resign on May 6.

Ahern, who spend his last 11 years as Ireland’s leader denied ever receiving a corrupt payment, but conceded that 18 months of growing criticism of his financial ethics had taken a toll on the effectiveness of his government.

“Never, in all the time I’ve served in public life, have I put my personal interests ahead of the public good. I have never received a corrupt payment nor done anything to dishonor any office I have held. … I know in my heart of hearts I’ve done no wrong and wronged no one,” Ahern said , flanked by senior Cabinet ministers during a 10-minute statement during which his voice frequently wavered with emotion.

But the leader of Ireland’s main opposition party, Fine Gael chief Enda Kenny, said Ahern had suffered unprecedented public criticism as “a liar and perjurer,” and had “bowed to the inevitable” because of his implausible testimony to an anti-corruption tribunal.

Ahern, according to cbs8 - initially claimed to have received just two major payments from personal friends. But the investigation since has uncovered about a dozen undocumented cash deposits in 1994 to Ahern, who is due to resume testimony next month.

With little change expected in overall policy direction, the first task facing his likely successor, Finance Minister and fellow Fianna Fail party member Brian Cowen, will be to secure a “yes” vote in a referendum when Irish voters will determine the fate of the European Union’s reform treaty.

The treaty, replaces a constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005 and some EU diplomats had feared revelations at an inquiry looking into Ahern’s finances would make it harder for him to persuade people to back it.

Ahern’s terms in office have been marked by unprecedented economic success at home and peace in the neighboring British territory of Northern Ireland.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who built a close friendship with Ahern as they jointly oversaw several summits on Northern Ireland, said Ahern should be remembered for his crucial role in bringing about peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and for “transforming relations between Britain and the Irish Republic”.