Shane Ross believes Fine Gael needs to be out of government for “the good of the party and the good of the country”.
Mr Ross served as an Independent Alliance minister with Leo Varadkar in the last government.
However, he said Fine Gael have fallen into the old Fianna Fail “born to rule” sense of entitlement and complacency trap, which, when added to a “to the manor born” air of confidence, means it’s time for them to go.
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Mr Ross was speaking to the Irish Mirror following the publication of his controversial biography of Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. He praised Ms McDonald, describing her as “a superstar” who left other politicians “trailing in her wake”.
He predicted she would be next Taoiseach, with Fine Gael out of power, but he doesn’t rule out a coalition between the two old enemies.
Mr Ross said: “I think they [FG] deserve a time out of power. I think they’re far too long in power. I mean Leo’s been in power for 10 years, for 11 years, he’s been in power since 2011. Simon Coveney is good at lots of things he does, but he’s still ‘to the manor born’ and he reminds me of someone who’s in the House of Lords, there for life, and that’s how he feels.
“And I like him, I get on with him, and I think a lot of what he does, not on the North, but I think a lot of what he does is very good and very responsible.
“But in general terms, those ministers have been there too long.
“They’ve almost got the ‘right to rule’ air that Fianna Fail used to have and I think it’s bad for them and they need to be in opposition. The country needs them in opposition.”
He said he believes Sinn Fein will be able to choose their coalition partner from anyone after a general election.
Mr Ross added: “The resistance to a merger with Sinn Fein, talking to Sinn Fein as coalition partners, is obviously pretty well over from all sides and I’d include Fine Gael in that.
“I think it’s very, very likely, the most likely combination will be Fianna Fail in as the junior partner with Sinn Fein.
“They’ll have to swallow hard, but the jobs will be there, and absolutely possible Sinn Fein and Fine Gael too.”
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