In the small and febrile world of Irish politics, speculation is rife about whether long-serving prime minister Bertie Ahern has set his sights on bigger political things – namely becoming the first president of the European Council.
Mr Ahern, a skilful and wily politician who has been Taoiseach in Ireland since 1997, has already made it clear he will not contest the next elections set for 2011.
But either becoming a backbencher for his centre-right Fianna Fail party or stepping ...
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