2nd Ld Writethru: Irish deputy PM steps down ahead of no-confidence vote

DUBLIN, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Irish Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Frances Fitzgerald stepped down on Tuesday hours ahead of no-confidence vote in parliament that threatened to collapse the current minority government.

At a cabinet meeting, Fitzgerald said she was resigning for the sake of the country and to avoid a general election.

She also said she was not forced to resign and was doing so out of choice.

In a subsequent statement, Fitzgerald said it is necessary to take this decision "to avoid an unwelcome and potentially destabilizing general election at this historically critical time".

"Throughout my career I have always sought to act with integrity and responsibility, and that is why I have decided on this occasion to put the national interest ahead of my own personal reputation," she said.

In the statement, Fitzgerald thanked Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varakdar for showing the courage and determination to protect her good name.

"I decided that my continuation in office risks destabilizing that good work, and so I have decided to step-down so that this work may continue and the country can be spared an unnecessary election," she added.

Meanwhile, Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varakdar wrote to opposition Fianna Fail (Republican Party) leader Micheal Martin, confirming that Fitzgerald had offered her resignation and that he had accepted it.

Fitzgerald's resignation means the planned no-confidence motion tabled by the main opposition has been dropped and the threat of a pre-Christmas election has been averted, analysts here say.

Last week, Fianna Fail lodged a motion of no-confidence in Fitzgerald, alleging that she was involved in a conspiracy aimed at smearing police whistleblower Maurice McCabe when she served as minister for justice from 2014 to 2016.

But Fitzgerald rejected the allegations, saying that she was not part of any conspiracy to undermine McCabe.

Following the 2016 general election, Fine Gael (United Ireland Party) formed a minority government with some non-party members of parliament. The minority government was made possible by a confidence and supply agreement with Fianna Fail, which agreed to abstain in confidence votes.

Fianna Fail said the standoff could be resolved if Fitzgerald stepped down. Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael did not want a snap general election. Enditem