FF presidential candidate to be chosen ‘in weeks’
As he attended the party’s annual Easter Rising Commemoration at Arbour Hill Cemetery in Dublin yesterday, Mr Martin was asked about the possibility of his former leader and taoiseach Bertie Ahern putting his name forward.
“Bertie Ahern hasn’t put himself forward at all and he hasn’t indicated to me that he is interested,” he said. “That is something we will deal with in coming weeks. I’m not here to talk about personalities or individuals. That’s something we will consider in due course.”
With just over six months to go until the ninth president is elected, pressure is mounting across the political spectrum.
One of the favourites not only for the Fianna Fáil nomination but also for the role itself, MEP Brian Crowley, was unavailable for comment last night.
However, it has been reported he will wait until at least early May, after the Seanad elections, before announcing if he will put his name forward.
A similar timeframe is likely in the Labour Party where two other strong candidates, Michael D Higgins and Fergus Finlay, will fight a close battle for the nomination.
On Friday, Fine Gael MEP Máiréad McGuinness confirmed she will be seeking her party’s nomination, putting pressure on another former taoiseach John Bruton to show his hand.
Other possible candidates for the Fine Gael nomination include former GAA president, now MEP Seán Kelly and former European Parliament president Pat Cox.
Fine Gael looks likely to stage a contest for the party nomination within three to four weeks.
The clear frontrunner with the bookies remains independent senator David Norris, who will likely receive his nomination from the Oireachtas or local councils.
