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23 January 2011
Last updated at 11:03 ET
The Republic of Ireland's Green Party is pulling out of the ruling coalition, a move expected to bring forward the general election from 11 March.
The party's announcement, after a meeting in Dublin, follows a decision on Saturday by PM Brian Cowen to quit as leader of his Fianna Fail party.
Mr Cowen had said he would stay on as PM until the election, a move opponents had described as "farcical".
The Greens' decision removes the ruling coalition's two-seat majority.
Fianna Fail had urged the Greens to stay in government to ensure that new financial legislation - which is key to Ireland's international bail-out package - was passed before the March election.
Ireland was forced to accept the 85bn euro ($113bn; £72bn) EU and IMF bail-out in November last year.
The Greens will join the opposition benches immediately.
They said they would still support the finance bill and hoped Fianna Fail would fast-track the legislation.
Green Party leader John Gormley said after the meeting in a Dublin hotel: "Our patience has reached an end. We have decided that we can no longer continue in government."
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The party's announcement, after a meeting in Dublin, follows a decision on Saturday by PM Brian Cowen to quit as leader of his Fianna Fail party.
Mr Cowen had said he would stay on as PM until the election, a move opponents had described as "farcical".
The Greens' decision removes the ruling coalition's two-seat majority.
Fianna Fail had urged the Greens to stay in government to ensure that new financial legislation - which is key to Ireland's international bail-out package - was passed before the March election.
Ireland was forced to accept the 85bn euro ($113bn; £72bn) EU and IMF bail-out in November last year.
The Greens will join the opposition benches immediately.
They said they would still support the finance bill and hoped Fianna Fail would fast-track the legislation.
Green Party leader John Gormley said after the meeting in a Dublin hotel: "Our patience has reached an end. We have decided that we can no longer continue in government."
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