CAB128-94_A1b — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

Page 43

It was

Greek Parliament. Mr Andreas Papandreou had resigned. too soon to say whether Mr Mitsotakis of New Democracy would be able to form a government. Greece would be represented at the Madrid European Council by President Sartzetakis.

ONFIDEN

Republic of Ireland

RE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that in the recent general election in the Irish Republic the Taoiseach, Mr Charles ey, had failed to secure an overall majority, being now seats short. If he was to remain he would therefore be dependent on arrangements with at least one of the minority paries.

e

The signs were that he would be re-elected Taoiseach when the Dail reconvened on 29 June. His position would now be more precarious, but with Mr Brian Lenihan no longer likely to be in the overnment because of ill health, it would be important to maintain close relations with Mr Haughey.

had not been an issue in the campaign.

Northern

THE SECRETARY

TATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND said that in the Irish general on the Sinn Fein vote had further collapsed, falling from 1.6 per cent in 1984 to only 1.2 per cent this time. During the Not elections to the European Parliament, the Sinn Fein candiden Northern Ireland, Mr Danny Morrison, had seen his vote curgh 91,000 to 48,000.

The Cabinet

Took note.

IDENTIAL

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

European Parliament

Elections

4. THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH S of the 1989 European Parliament

ARY said that as a result lections left wing parties

A

would together be able to muster some 257-261 votes. coalition of the centre right parties would command some 220 votes. While inclusion of the extreme right would increase this number to some 240 there was a gap

he 40 votes to be bridged for the centre right parties to achieve the majority of 260 votes required under the co-operation mocere introduced by the Single European Act. Further considertould need to be given to how the situation should be manage Labour Group would now constitute the biggest no within the Socialist Group. The European Democrat

The British element up would

now be only one quarter the size of the Christian Deats but would be likely to retain one Vice-Presidency.

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