The Tánaiste and Finance Minister Brian Cowen is expected to be appointed Fianna Fáil leader without a contest next week.
Last night, the party announced that nominations for the position will close on Saturday and a special parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday will choose the new leader.
However, all of the main contenders have already declared their intention to support Mr Cowen, with Transport Minister Noel Dempsey the last to publicly to do so yesterday.
The outgoing Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has already named the Laois-Offaly TD as his natural successor.