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Sat 06 Jun 2007Ahern names Cowen as favoured successorTaoiseach Bertie Ahern formally anointed Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen as his favoured successor yesterday, describing him as his obvious replacement in "five years' time or whenever". Stephen Collins, Political Editor, reports.The question of the succession was raised with Mr Ahern by Seán O'Rourke on RTÉ Radio. He asked the Taoiseach if Mr Cowen was as obvious a successor to him as Seán Lemass was to Eamon de Valera.