Fianna Fáil party members show significant backing for nominating a presidential candidate
Fianna Fáil Mulls Over Running a Candidate for the 2025 Irish Presidential Election
Fianna Fáil, Ireland's largest political party, is considering running its own candidate in the upcoming presidential election slated for late October 2025. This move comes after a gap of almost two decades since the party last fielded a candidate in 1997.
According to a survey of Fianna Fáil's TDs, Senators, and MEPs, 25 of them have expressed a desire for the party to have a representative in the race. This support is driven by the party's desire to have influence in the presidential race and provide a voice for its supporters.
Malcolm Byrne, a Fianna Fáil TD, has advocated for a flexible nomination process that allows party councillors a free vote in nominating candidates. Byrne believes that this approach will balance internal democratic choice with party unity, ensuring that candidates who respect the Constitution and state institutions and have not dismissed Fianna Fáil can stand.
Some potential candidates who have local council support and may bid for nomination include Nick Delehanty and Gareth Sheridan, signaling internal competition or openness within the party. Polls suggest that Bertie Ahern, a prominent figure in Fianna Fáil, is a preferred potential candidate among party supporters.
However, some party members have expressed cynicism about the decision-making process, fearing it may be made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and senior colleagues alone. There are also doubts about the candidate options currently mooted, and some members acknowledge the difficulty in finding a suitable candidate.
Minister of State Niall Collins has expressed some caution, stating that the party needs a candidate who is qualified to do the job well and has a real chance of winning the election. He believes that the party's elected representatives may not have the opportunity to discuss the matter.
Despite these reservations, the majority of Fianna Fáil parliamentarians are in favour of the party contesting the election. Shay Brennan, TD for Dublin Rathdown, has stated that Fianna Fáil has been "at the heart of Irish democracy for generations". Mary Butler, TD for Wexford, and John Connolly, TD for Galway West, have also expressed their support for a Fianna Fáil candidate.
The leadership is expected to make a decision at the end of August and put it to the wider party. If the decision is to run a candidate, it will mark a significant shift in Fianna Fáil's approach to the presidential election.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, an MEP in the South constituency, has stated that the presidential election is extraordinarily important in the context of Irish politics. The outcome of the election could have far-reaching implications for the country, making it crucial for Fianna Fáil to have a strong presence in the race.
In conclusion, Fianna Fáil's consideration to run a candidate appears motivated by a desire to have a say in the presidential race and provide a voice for its supporters. The party is advocating a flexible nomination process that respects local party group preferences and constitutional values of candidates. The leadership is expected to make a decision soon, and if they decide to run a candidate, it will be a significant move for Fianna Fáil in the upcoming presidential election.
- The upcoming 2025 Irish Presidential Election, a significant event in the realm of policy-and-legislation and general-news, has sparked discussions within Fianna Fáil, Ireland's largest political party, about running their own candidate.
- In the context of Irish politics, Fianna Fáil's potential decision to contest the presidential election is of utmost importance, as it could have far-reaching implications for the country and impact the political landscape, particularly in terms of policy-and-legislation and politics.
