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17 January 2011
Last updated at 22:18 ET
By Mark Simpson
BBC Ireland correspondent
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has said he is confident of winning a vote within his party on his leadership.
The secret ballot comes just months after Ireland was forced to seek an 85bn-euro ($113bn) bail-out from the EU and IMF for its stricken economy.
Members of parliament in Mr Cowen's party, Fianna Fail, will decide whether they want him to continue as leader. An election could be called, if he loses.
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said he would vote against him.
Secret weapon After spending the past year trying to save Ireland's economy, the Mr Cowen is now fighting for his own survival.
On Tuesday in Dublin, his parliamentary party will vote on whether or not to keep him as leader.
On Sunday, his previously loyal foreign minister suddenly turned against him. Mr Martin said he believed Fianna Fail now needed a new leader.
But having spoken to the rest of his cabinet, Mr Cowen believes he has enough backing to stay in the job.
His problem is that Tuesday's vote is private - it is not just a show of hands.
And his opponents say that the secret ballot could be their secret weapon.
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The secret ballot comes just months after Ireland was forced to seek an 85bn-euro ($113bn) bail-out from the EU and IMF for its stricken economy.
Members of parliament in Mr Cowen's party, Fianna Fail, will decide whether they want him to continue as leader. An election could be called, if he loses.
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said he would vote against him.
Secret weapon After spending the past year trying to save Ireland's economy, the Mr Cowen is now fighting for his own survival.
On Tuesday in Dublin, his parliamentary party will vote on whether or not to keep him as leader.
On Sunday, his previously loyal foreign minister suddenly turned against him. Mr Martin said he believed Fianna Fail now needed a new leader.
But having spoken to the rest of his cabinet, Mr Cowen believes he has enough backing to stay in the job.
His problem is that Tuesday's vote is private - it is not just a show of hands.
And his opponents say that the secret ballot could be their secret weapon.
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