Ahern at bay

"Another economy suffering from a property bustSPAIN is not the only country in Europe to be feeling the after-effects of a burst property bubble (see article). Another may well be Britain; and a third, even more spectacularly, is Ireland. In the Irish case, the prime minister, Bertie Ahern, is suffering as well.Indeed, when Mr Ahern meets George Bush next week for the annual St Patrick's Day bash in the White House, it may be the last such party for both men. Mr Bush will be gone by next year. And Mr Ahern, who was returned only last May to a third term as head of a three-party coalition, is struggling to stay in power. A Teflon taoiseach (prime minister) for most of the past 11 years, Mr Ahern has lost his non-stick coating. ..." (2008-3-13)

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