Fine Gael to back Michael D Higgins ‘unconditionally’ in re-election bid

Fine Gael has formally agreed to back Michael D Higgins for a second term as president and closed the door on its party councillors supporting a rival for Áras an Uachtaráin.

The party’s executive council made the decision last night, along with a commitment to contribute resources for Mr Higgins and for Fine Gael to campaign for him. The party will also ask elected councillors to do the same, as already agreed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the parliamentary party.

Fine Gael’s executive council chairman Gerry O’Connell said: “On six separate occasions in our party’s history, Fine Gael has put political partisanship to one side and has supported either an incumbent or an agreed presidential candidate in the interests of national unity. In supporting Michael D Higgins, we acknowledge that he has demonstrated over the last seven years that he has been a model president who has brought great dignity to the office and earned great affection from the nation.