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Mary Lou McDonald says she “needs to lead from the front” while in opposition
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has ruled herself out of running in the Irish presidential election.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said her name was “no longer in the mix” and that she needed to “lead from the front” while in opposition.
She refused to rule out Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill as a potential candidate, but added that “we have options” and “everything is still in play”.
People in the Republic of Ireland are set to go to the polls on Friday 24 October to vote in the Irish presidential election.
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Michelle O’Neill has refused to rule herself out of the race
When asked if she would run, O’Neill, who is Sinn Féin vice-president, refused to rule herself out.
O’Neill said the party’s decision would be announced later this month – and for now they are focused on “internal deliberations”.
“We’ve said from the very offset that we will make our decision known on 20 September. That remains our position,” she told the BBC.
“Mary Lou’s obviously now clarified her own position in that she will not go forward as the candidate.
“And for us we’re very much focused on our internal deliberations, talking to our party, making sure that we weigh up all the pros and cons of any potential decision that we might make.
“So just a few short weeks to go before we get to the 20th whenever we’ll make our view known.”
‘Holding government to account’
Earlier on Monday, McDonald said her effort “at this point in time” had to be in respect of “holding this government to account day and daily, building with my Sinn Féin colleagues and with colleagues beyond Sinn Féin a real alternative as and when the next general election occurs”.
She confirmed the party’s process of selecting a candidate for the presidential election was “still under way”, and a “final proposition” would be brought to members next week.
She added: “We still have the option of a Sinn Féin candidate or backing another.
“Catherine Connolly is the candidate now in the field and certainly, prior to going to the Ard Chomhairle, we will look to meet with Catherine and her campaign team.”
It comes as 12 potential candidates are expected to come before Kerry County Council to seek support for a presidential nomination.
It is the first council to hear from aspiring independent presidential candidates.
Who is running for president?
What is the role of the Irish president?
The president of Ireland acts as the head of state.
It is a largely ceremonial role, representing Ireland at public events at the national and international level.
Only citizens residing in the Irish Republic have the right to vote in presidential elections.
To run for the office, you have to be an Irish citizen and aged over 35.
Candidates also need the backing of either 20 members of the Oireachtas (Irish houses of parliament) or four of the 31 local authorities.
Michael D Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth president in 2011 and was re-elected in October 2018.
He is not eligible to stand again as he will have completed two full seven-year terms.
Higgins succeeded Mary McAleese, who has been the only president from Northern Ireland.