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2018 Irish presidential election

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Irish presidential election, 2018
← 2011 26 October 2018
 
Nominee Michael D. Higgins
Party Independent
Incumbent President

Michael D. Higgins
Independent



The Irish presidential election of 2018 will take place on Friday, 26 October.[1] President Michael D. Higgins, who was elected in 2011, is seeking re-election.[2][3] This will be the first time since the 1966 election that an incumbent president will face a contest for a second term.[4] It is also the first occasion on which an incumbent president nominating themselves for re-election has been opposed, as Éamon de Valera was nominated by Fianna Fáil when he sought re-election in 1966. The election will be held on the same date as a referendum on blasphemy.[5][6]

Procedure

Main article: Irish presidential election

Presidential elections are conducted in line with Article 12 of the Constitution[7] and under the Presidential Elections Act 1993,[8] as amended.

On 28 August, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government signed the order to the presidential election, specifying the nomination period as between 10 a.m. on 30 August and 12 noon on 26 September 2018. The election will take place on Friday 26 October, between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m.[1] The inauguration for the next presidential term will take place at noon on 11 November.

To stand for election as president, candidates must:

  • be a citizen of Ireland
  • be at least 35 years of age
  • be nominated by:
    • at least twenty of the 218 serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas (parliament), or
    • at least four of the 31 county or city councils, or
    • themselves, in the case of an incumbent or former president who has served one term.

If a member of the Oireachtas or a County or City council nominate more than one candidate, only the first nomination paper received from them will be deemed valid.[8]

All Irish citizens entered on the current electoral register are eligible to vote.[7]

Candidates

Confirmed candidates
Name Party Nominator Current or most recent position
Michael D. Higgins[2][3] style="background-color: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | Independent Self-nomination President (2011–present)

Michael D. Higgins

On 10 July 2018, the current president Michael D. Higgins declared that he would nominate himself when the ministerial order was made for the presidential election.[2][3] Higgins had said in 2011 that he intended to serve one term only, but changed his mind over the course of his term.[9] A spokesperson for the Labour Party said in August 2017 that they would support Higgins for a second term; he had served as a Labour TD and senator between 1981 and 2011 and had been nominated by Labour Oireachtas members at the 2011 presidential election.[10] On 26 June 2018, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the party would back Higgins for a second term as president were he to run again.[11] On 11 July, the Fine Gael parliamentary party announced its support for Higgins as president.[12] Higgins also has the support of Independent ministers Katherine Zappone and John Halligan.[13][14]

Council nominations

The following candidates have received nominations from local authorities. Candidates need the support of at least four local authorities to be a candidate in the election.

Name Occupation Nominations Councils
Gavin Duffy[15] Businessman 1 Meath[16]
Joan Freeman[17][18] Senator (2016–present) 1 Cork City[19]
Seán Gallagher[20] Businessman 3 Roscommon[21], Mayo[22], Leitrim[23]

Also seeking a nomination from local authorities are: Peter Casey[24], Patrick Feeney[25], John Groarke[26], Marie Goretti Moylan[27], Sarah Louise Mulligan[28], Gemma O'Doherty[29], Kevin Sharkey[30], and James Smyth[28].

Oireachtas nominations

Sinn Féin has formed a committee to select a candidate, with nominations within the party to close on 10 September 2018, and a decision will be made on 16 September 2018.[4][31]

Senator Gerard Craughwell had said that he would seek the nomination if Higgins were otherwise to be unopposed.[32][33] However, in July he announced that he would not contest the presidential election, in light of Sinn Féin's decision to run a candidate.[34] He also cited the financial costs of running for the presidency as a factor in his decision not to contest the election.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b "Minister Murphy makes Presidential Election Order". Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  2. ^ a b c Bardon, Sarah; Kelly, Fiach (10 July 2018). "Michael D Higgins confirms he will seek second term". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Lehane, Micheál (10 July 2018). "Michael D Higgins to seek second term as president". RTÉ News. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Martina (14 July 2018). "Sinn Féin to field candidate in presidential election". RTE.ie. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  5. ^ Bardon, Sarah (23 June 2018). "President tells Government of intention to seek second term". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  6. ^ McMorrow, Conor (5 September 2018). "Referendum on place of women in the home deferred". RTE.ie. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  7. ^ a b Article 12 of the Constitution of Ireland. "Constitution of Ireland". Attorney General of Ireland. October 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Presidential Elections Act 1993". Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  9. ^ Fitzgerald, Cormac (25 September 2017). "Over 75% of people want Michael D to serve a second term as president". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 26 January 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  10. ^ McEnroe, Juno; McConnell, Daniel (24 August 2017). "Labour would back Michael D Higgins in Áras run". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  11. ^ Doyle, Kevin (26 June 2018). "Fianna Fáil to support Michael D Higgins if he runs for second term as President". Irish Independent.
  12. ^ Bardon, Sarah (11 July 2018). "Fine Gael to canvass for Michael D Higgins in election campaign". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  13. ^ Bardon, Sarah (2 July 2018). "Katherine Zappone backs President Higgins for a second term". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  14. ^ Quinn, Trevor (3 July 2018). "Waterford TD John Halligan is backing President Michael D Higgins for a second term in office". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Gavin Duffy confirms he wants to run for presidency". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Duffy secures Meath Council presidential nomination". RTÉ News. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  17. ^ Bardon, Sarah (5 July 2018). "Joan Freeman may be seeking nomination to run for presidency". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  18. ^ Ryan, Philip (6 July 2018). "'Darkness into Light' campaign founder seeks nomination for the Áras". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  19. ^ "Freeman endorsed by Cork City Council for Áras run". RTE.ie. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Seán Gallagher to seek nomination for Presidential Election". RTÉ News. 29 August 2018.
  21. ^ "Gallagher gets Roscommon council Áras endorsement". RTE.ie. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Presidential campaign: Gallagher nominated by Mayo and Roscommon". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  23. ^ http://www.thejournal.ie/sean-gallagher-presidential-nomination-4227483-Sep2018/
  24. ^ "Businessman Peter Casey seeks presidential nomination". RTÉ News. 30 August 2018.
  25. ^ "Three hopefuls in bid to secure Áras nomination". RTÉ News. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  26. ^ Moran, Ciaran (13 July 2018). "'You never see ordinary Joe Soaps getting into high office' - Roscommon farmer wants to be President". Independent.
  27. ^ "Two Candidates So Far Seeking Clare Support For Áras Bid". Clare FM. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Formal order for Presidential Election may be signed tomorrow". RTÉ News. 27 August 2018.
  29. ^ "Journalist Gemma O'Doherty announces intention to run for the presidency". Irish Times. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  30. ^ "Artist Kevin Sharkey confirms bid to run for President". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Presidential candidate for Sinn Féin to be announced in September". The Irish Times. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  32. ^ Finn, Christina (15 August 2017). "'Running for president of Ireland is not something I would do willy-nilly, but we need a contest'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  33. ^ Dunne, Seán (15 August 2017). "Senator to run against Higgins to ensure election for presidency". The Irish Times. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  34. ^ "Craughwell will not contest Presidential Election". RTÉ News. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  35. ^ Murray, Sean. "Gerard Craughwell says he's not running for the presidency because he can't afford it". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
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