Awwal 03, 1432 H/Feb 06, 2011, SPA -- Enda Kenny, the leader of Ireland's main opposition party and the candidate most likely to be prime minister after a February 25 poll, will not participate in the first leadership debate of the election campaign, according to Reuters. Kenny, whose Fine Gael party looks set to lead the next coalition government despite his own unpopularity, said on Sunday the Feb 8 debate on local television station TV3 clashed with his campaign schedule. "That doesn't fit into my schedule at all. It's a case were TV3 said, 'We want the debate on Tuesday night before anybody else so Mr Politicians comply'," Kenny told reporters. Earlier in the week, he said he would not participate in the debate if it was chaired by Vincent Browne, an outspoken journalist, over remarks Browne had made about suicide. Opposition politicians have lined up to taunt Kenny for his no-show, accusing him of cowardice. The 59-year-old has consistently underperformed in opinion polls and while he excels at canvassing on the ground his media performances and speeches have often appeared stilted. For a newsmaker on Kenny His unpopularity with the public prompted a failed coup last summer by his then deputy leader Richard Bruton. Kenny's defeat of the putsch earned him plaudits but some party members continue to view him as an electoral liability and believe a more popular leader would put Fine Gael on course to form a single party government for the first time in its history. Surveys suggest Fine Gael will form a coalition government with the centre-left Labour party whose leader Eamon Gilmore is riding high in the opinion polls. Gilmore and the new leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party, Micheal Martin, will take part in the leadership debate on Tuesday. Kenny will participate in a televised leader debate on February 14 involving Gilmore, Martin, Gerry Adams, the leader of leftwing nationalist party Sinn Fein, and the leader of the Green Party John Gormley. There is also expected to be a final televised debate between Kenny, Gilmore and Martin on February 22.
