Cowen set to become next Irish PM

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Finance Minister Brian Cowen is set to become Ireland's next prime minister after he was the sole candidate to lead the governing Fianna Fail party when nominations for the post closed on Saturday.

Bertie Ahern announced on Wednesday he would step down as prime minister on May 6, with Cowen receiving support from cabinet ministers to replace him and no challengers stepping forward.

Fianna Fail secured an historic third consecutive election victory last year and is the biggest party in the ruling coalition administration.

Fianna Fail said in a statement on Saturday deputies would meet on April 9 to elect their new leader.

Cowen, who is also Ireland's deputy prime minister, said the confidence shown in him by lawmakers was a reflection of the wider support by party members.

"I am grateful for that overwhelming endorsement of my candidacy for the leadership of the party at this time," he said in a statement.

Cowen, 48, is regarded a safe pair of hands to guide the economy through a period of sharply slowing growth after a decade of spectacular development, and ministers said they also trusted him to represent Ireland on the international stage.

His most pressing task will be to secure a "yes" vote in a referendum expected on June 12, when Irish voters will determine the fate of the European Union's reform treaty.

Ireland is the only one of the EU's 27 member states planning a referendum on the treaty and a rejection by Irish voters could topple the whole project, which was designed to end years of wrangling over reform of the bloc's institutions.

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul; Editing by Jon Boyle)