Fine Gael’s presidential contenders well versed in EU affairs

A Fine Gael candidate has never held the position of President of Ireland but the party is confident this will change with the election later in the year.

Fianna Fáil has shown no signs of having a winning candidate, Labour has a number of contenders and the best known Independent to date, Senator David Norris, is mired in controversy.

Fine Gael, on the other hand, has three contenders so far for the nomination, which will largely be decided by the parliamentary party with 70% of the vote. The large number of party councillors share 20% and the executive council has a tie-breaking 10% of the nomination vote.