Under the party’s rules, the term of the leadership ends six months after a general election, if the party does not go into government.
This means Ivana Bacik’s leadership term will end on May 29 if not reelected to the position.
On Wednesday, the General Secretary of the Labour Party was given approval to start the process of the leadership election and party members were notified.
Nominations are now open for TDs and will close on May 8. However, in an email to members, chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), TD Ged Nash wrote to members to say the PLP was “fully supportive” of Ms Bacik.
“Under our Party constitution the leader of the Party must be a member of Dáil Éireann,” Mr Nash said.
“As Chair of the Parliamentary Party I have spoken individually to each member of the PLP in relation to the potential contest,” he added.
Mr Nash informed members that the PLP wished leader Ivana Bacik to seek another term and continue in her role.
“Importantly, no TD will be putting themselves forward for the leadership contest,” Mr Nash said.
According to party rules, if there is only one candidate, then that person is deemed elected as leader.
“Given the Party rules, I think this development will effectively bring the leadership election process to a conclusion and the Party can now continue to focus on the task ahead of us, to grow the Party and to put forward our vision of an equal, progressive and tolerant Ireland,” Mr Nash told members.
Members were informed that the parliamentary party will next week sign Ms Bacik’s nomination paper for the leadership.
Roderic O’Gorman has been re-elected as the leader of the Green Party.
The sole remaining TD from the party, his reelection comes after a bruising general election for the party, when it saw its Dáil representation almost entirely wiped out with 11 seats lost.
Mr O’Gorman took over the party leadership last year, after former leader Eamon Ryan stepped down from the position.
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