Ireland set for December election if crisis not averted by Tuesday - PM

The sun shines on Government Buildings, seen through a hole in decorative entrance gates in Dublin, Ireland November 24, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Friday he would not seek the resignation of his deputy prime minister, as sought by the party propping up his government, and would be forced to call an election if that demand was not withdrawn by Tuesday.

"I think if we don't resolve matters by Tuesday, then there will be a motion of no confidence in the Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) and, if the opposition come together to remove the Tanaiste, then we will be into an election at that point," Varadkar told the national broadcaster RTE.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Kevin Liffey)