Three candidates are set to compete in Ireland’s presidential election: a former government minister, a former sports coach, and an independent left-wing politician. The three-way race was confirmed on Wednesday when the nomination period ended without any political outsiders making it onto the ballot.
Heather Humphreys, a former cabinet minister, will represent the ruling centre-right Fine Gael party. Jim Gavin, who coached Dublin’s Gaelic football team, is running for its centrist coalition partner, Fianna Fáil. Catherine Connolly, a vocal pro-Palestinian politician, is backed by small left-wing opposition parties as well as Sinn Féin, which chose not to run its own candidate.
The election on 24 October will conclude the 14-year term of Michael D Higgins, who has been both praised and criticized for using the largely ceremonial role to speak out on global issues, particularly regarding Gaza.
Several well-known figures had expressed interest in running but failed to secure the required support from four local councils or 20 members of parliament. These included Michael Flatley, Bob Geldof, and mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, who received an endorsement from Elon Musk.
Gareth Sheridan, a pharmaceutical tycoon, and Maria Steen, a social conservative activist, also narrowly missed the threshold. Steen said on Wednesday that she regretted not making the ballot and that the public’s desire for an alternative candidate would remain unmet. Some commentators, including those who disagreed with her views, had hoped she would run to offer voters more choice.
The presidency was once a comfortable role for establishment figures, but Mary Robinson’s unexpected win in 1990 began an era of unpredictable campaigns focused more on the candidates themselves than their party ties.
An opinion poll from 14 September, taken before Sinn Féin endorsed Connolly, showed her with 17% support, behind Gavin at 18% and Humphreys at 22%. Analysts note that most voters in Irish presidential elections tend to pay little attention until the final two weeks of the campaign, around the time of televised debates.
Each candidate has already faced controversy. Connolly, 68, has been criticized for meeting supporters of Bashar al-Assad during a 2018 trip to Syria and for recently telling the BBC that Hamas is “part of the fabric” of the Palestinian people—a remark that concerned Labour and the Social Democrats, both of which support her campaign.
Gavin, 54, a political newcomer with backgrounds in sports, aviation, and the military, has criticized social media companies for allowing what he called “completely unacceptable” lies and misinformation about him and his family. He stated, “I’m not going to stand for it, and society shouldn’t stand for it either.”
Humphreys, 62, a Presbyterian from the border county of Monaghan, has faced questions over her inability to speak Irish and her family’s historical ties to the pro-union Orange Order in Northern Ireland. She has said she supports Irish unity, and her backers highlight her Protestant background as a sign of inclusivity.Heritage might persuade Northern Ireland’s unionists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the confirmed threecandidate Irish presidential election
General Information
1 Who are the three confirmed candidates
As of now the confirmed candidates are Michael D Higgins Peter Casey and Joan Freeman
2 What is the role of the President of Ireland
The President is the head of state Their role is largely ceremonial representing Ireland at home and abroad signing laws into effect and acting as a unifying figure for the country
3 When is the presidential election taking place
The election is scheduled for Friday October 26 2018
4 Is the President the same as the Taoiseach
No they are very different roles The Taoiseach is the head of the government and runs the country daytoday The President is the nonpolitical head of state
The Candidates Campaign
5 Why is Michael D Higgins running again
As the sitting President he is eligible for a second sevenyear term and has decided to seek reelection
6 What are the main issues in this election
Key issues include the role and relevance of the presidency Irish unity housing and homelessness and the candidates visions for modern Ireland
7 How did the candidates get nominated
A candidate needs the support of at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local councils Michael D Higgins was nominated by a majority of the Oireachtas while Peter Casey and Joan Freeman secured nominations from multiple county councils
Voting Process
8 Who can vote in the presidential election
All Irish citizens aged 18 and over who are registered to vote can participate This includes citizens living in Ireland and those abroad who are registered on the diaspora voting list
9 How does the voting system work
Ireland uses a system called Proportional Representation with a Single Transferable Vote You rank the candidates in order of your preference
10 What happens if no candidate gets 50 of the firstchoice votes
This is likely in a threeway race The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters second preferences This continues until one candidate has a majority
