Mairead McGuinness to get Fine Gael nod for presidential election

Former MEP and European Commissioner is expected to be the only runner left as Fine Gael closes its nominations on Tuesday

Former MEP, vice-president of the European Parliament, and European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, is likely to be ratified by Fine Gael in September. Picure: RollingNews

The presidential election race will have another new candidate on Tuesday when Fine Gael closes its nominations, with Mairead McGuinness expected to get the nod.

The party began its nominations process last Monday, but saw one of just two touted nominees, Seán Kelly, withdraw on Thursday.

Mr Kelly, who was elected to the European Parliament in Ireland South with a massive 127,000 votes last June, opted not to contest the Fine Gael nomination race, leaving the way clear for former European commissioner Mairead McGuinness.

Fine Gael's 'only candidate'

Ms McGuinness is now seen as the “only candidate” within Fine Gael, with party sources saying there is a “growing belief” that the former journalist and MEP could win the race this year.

A senior source said that Ms McGuinness would command “huge support” from across the party, with leader Simon Harris keen to deliver an electoral victory.

Should Ms McGuinness emerge as the only candidate, she would be ratified at a party event in September.

Catherine Connolly seeks Labour backing

While the Fine Gael nomination closes, another prospective candidate, Catherine Connolly, will meet with the Labour parliamentary party in a bid to secure its backing for her candidacy.

Ms Connolly already has support of 18 of the required 20 members of the Oireachtas for her nomination, but she will ask Labour to back her as the combined left-wing candidate.

Last Friday, after Ms Connolly confirmed she was seeking a nomination, having been backed by the Social Democrats and People Before Profit, a Labour Party spokesperson confirmed that she would address the party after meeting with leader Ivana Bacik last week.

“Our internal processes and membership consultation are under way and it is positive that a strong left candidate has emerged,” said a spokesperson.

In 2006, Ms Connolly resigned from the Labour Party after she was denied the chance to contest the Galway West constituency alongside Michael D Higgins.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly already has support of 18 of the required 20 Oireachtas members but will be asking Labour to back her as the combined left-wing candidate. File picture: PA

Within Labour, sources said there was something of a divide around whether to support Ms Connolly.

Some longer-serving members feel that Ms Connolly has been overly critical of the party in the past, while others feel that she is the “natural successor” to Mr Higgins, who will end 14 years as president this year.

Last week, Ms Connolly  told the Galway City Tribune that her “mind was made up to run”:  

I’ve support from across the spectrum, including the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Solidarity, as well as a number of senators and others.

“Labour and Sinn Féin are still completing their own internal processes which I fully respect. I’ll be formally launching my campaign next week,” she said.

No word yet from Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin

However, despite the race beginning in earnest, there is still no indication of how Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin will proceed.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is still mulling over a consultation carried out with party members and last week did not rule out a tilt at the job herself.

However, party sources said that she is unlikely to leave her role as a TD.

Within Fianna Fáil, sources said that suggestions Taoiseach Micheál Martin would be the party’s best candidate were wide of the mark, with one senior source saying they still believed that a Fianna Fáil nominee will emerge over the summer.