Irish Examiner view: Selection of proper Presidential candidates is crucial

In a fragmented field of runners, there is no knowing who might emerge as the winner after the final count

'While several governments have remained tight-lipped about opinions expressed by the current President, Michael D Higgins, during his two terms of office, which have been far outside his official remit, the current administration can ill-afford a winning candidate this time around who has stood on a platform committed to challenging its authority'. Picture: Maxwell’s

November’s presidential election is taking on the appearance of an unholy combat zone. It will be a battleground that needs to be taken very seriously by all of this country’s political establishment, because if it is not, then the results could well turn out to be very hard to swallow.

We have seen across the world in recent times elections which have been lost to extremist causes because of political apathy, voter disengagement, or opportunism on behalf of a very organised and strategically prepared opposition. Ireland can afford none of these eventualities.