Taoiseach refuses to rule out running Fine Gael candidate in Presidential election

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has not ruled out Fine Gael running a candidate in a potential presidential election this autumn after current incumbent Michael D Higgins strongly hinted he intends to seek re-election to the coveted role.

Taoiseach refuses to rule out running Fine Gael candidate in Presidential election

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has not ruled out Fine Gael running a candidate in a potential presidential election this autumn after current incumbent Michael D Higgins strongly hinted he intends to seek re-election to the coveted role, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

Mr Varadkar neither confirmed nor denied his party is intending to contest the now likely election at a media briefing yesterday, only saying Fine Gael will "make a decision" once the President officially reveals his own plans.

Speaking to reporters at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, the Taoiseach praised the President for his time in office, saying he "has been excellent" for the country and its reputation both at home and abroad.

However, while not specifically saying Fine Gael will seek to contest the election should the President now as expected seek re-election later this year, Mr Varadkar left the door open for such a future move.

"Well, I want to say that President Higgins has been an excellent president for Ireland," he said.

"He has just come back from a successful trip to Greece and he now plans for a trip to the Balkan states which I think is going to be very welcome, and very much part of our efforts to build alliances with them and other countries post-Brexit.

"So, I think he's done a really excellent job. Fine Gael will make a decision after we know his intentions, for sure."

Mr Varadkar's comments came after the President strongly suggested to reporters during an official visit to Greece on Wednesday that he intends to seek re-election later this year, despite saying during the 2011 presidential campaign he would only serve one term.

Asked about the issue in Athens amid reports he will confirm his re-election bid in July, the President said on Wednesday: "I did say at one stage that getting through the term was, in fact, the length of my aspirations. I have changed my mind on that because I do think that very solid foundations have been laid there and this leaves choices open as to what I may do.

"I think I will decide that appropriately and I will do so in plenty of time so that there will be opportunities to, if I did decide, that there will be opportunities to do that in an appropriate way.

"It is a decision that I have to come to and my decision is not standing in the way of anyone else's decision. If I did decide to stand, it would be invoking an article in the constitution which would mean that I would stand as an Independent."

Fine Gael MEPs Mairead McGuinness and Sean Kelly have recently said they would like to be considered if Fine Gael runs a candidate.

Similarly, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has previously hinted his party may run a candidate if there is a contest, with senator Mark Daly publicly putting his name forward and candidates such as presenter Miriam O Callaghan and controversial former taoiseach Bertie Ahern suggested by some members.

Independent senator Ger Croughwell has publicly said he intends to run and is confident of receiving enough Oireachtas support to do so, while new Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she is in favour of a contest.

- Irish Examiner

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