the leadership were denounced.
politics altogether.
As party hopefuls jostled TOI O'Leary announced Fine Gael Was Ulll right wing former coalition partner).
Meanwhile, Dick Spring, the rank outsider and virtual newcomer who was elected Labour leader suggested that Labour might consider a coalition with the present government party Fianna Fail after the has Just been called.
inability Tweedle Dee Fianna Fail and the I weedle Dum Fine Gael-Labour coalition to A WEEK is a long time in politics, as the saying Labour solve Ireland's problems has thrown Irish society inpolitical maelstrom. While some sections of the ruling class speculate on the chances of a coup to resolve the crisis through Tne zormanon ot tional government', •usiness Uno id se tes st to Bose in who have most to lose things go wrong, wait in the wings.
The biggest obstacle to either of Luest green Tory governments has OCCI the determined resistance of the working class to the attempts to imPhe last months have ses. austerity measures. a whole series of militant strikes.
Small farmers and fishermen play a role a. well. In the last fortnight Irelanu s ports nave vce. blockaded in a bid to get the release of five union leaders jailed by Inen government. And creamery has been taken over to resist 'rationalisaon mecsures.
These defensive struggles have begun to be accompanied political moves to link such strugfight government which breaks June and their imperialist backers. The most signiti cant advance in this direction came as Sinn Fein ac cepted the wishes of the movement and began to organise in support of the hunger strikers on an all-Ireland basis.
argued by Ber- most skillfully arguer Madelle and Peoples Democracy, was to use the electoral process North and South to highlight the political issues at stake and deepen the impact of the political status campaign In the North the electoral success of the Sinn Fein has temporarily sunk Tory Northern Minister Jim Prior's chadies of jasolving thal middle class Democratic Laboul Party to legitimise the assemoly. But. as Prior in desperation once more turns to the southern ruling class to prop uc 1mperialist rule, new deals are on the cards.
The best means to take forward the struggle now is the formation of an anti-imperialist slate to fight the elections in the South. Such a slate, aerenaing a platform against the allu cooperation Prior, would not only attract the support of the workers and small farmers looking for government that stuck up for their interests In all likelihood such a slate would see elected a force would hold the balance of power in the Dail creating huge opportunities for extending sup toI SuCH imperialist alternative. for working class, or even ruling class Charlie Haughey, leader of Fianna Fail. No solutions
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dolegates cheered as the coalition policies of Party leader Michael O'Leary quit his position to drop out of