![\"Bertie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/00231787-614.jpg\"\/)
\nBertie Ahern had recently expressed disappointment that he would not be considered by Fianna F\u00e1il for the presidency<\/p>\n
Former taoiseach and Fianna F\u00e1il leader Bertie Ahern has withdrawn from the running to be the next President of Ireland.<\/p>\n
In an online message to supporters, Mr Ahern outlined his reasons for stepping back.<\/p>\n
Just last week, the taoiseach from 1997 to 2008 did not rule himself out, despite the emergence of Jim Gavin as the preference of the leadership of the Fianna F\u00e1il party.<\/p>\n
In the message, Mr Ahern also claimed current Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin is “anti-me” and spoke of the economy and the Mahon Tribunal.<\/p>\n
Outlining his reasons for not continuing with a bid for \u00c1ras an Uachtar\u00e1in, Mr Ahern said: “I suppose [Miche\u00e1l Martin] saw in his view that there was a candidate 20 years younger and somebody from outside the party.<\/p>\n
“In all my time in Fianna F\u00e1il, I’ve never seen a period where the leadership really lose out in these things.”<\/p>\n
\nBertie Ahern had recently expressed disappointment that he would not be considered by Fianna F\u00e1il for the presidency<\/p>\n
Mr Ahern also ruled out running as an independent candidate.<\/p>\n
“As a former leader of the party, I respect Fianna F\u00e1il and its legacy far too much to even consider that independent idea,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I’ve always been a Fianna F\u00e1il person.<\/p>\n
“I suppose the only area where [Miche\u00e1l Martin] has indicated in the past why he was anti-me was the Mahon Tribunal and the economy.”<\/p>\n
He added: “I don\u2019t think we can say too much about the economy because we were all in it together, trying to make sure the economy was the best we could.<\/p>\n
“The reality is that the economy from \u201997 to today has grown practically nearly every year bar the years of the international recession which was a worldwide recession.”<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il TD for Dublin North-West Paul McAuliffe said Bertie Ahern “made a calculation” that he could not secure the nomination for president within the Fianna F\u00e1il parliamentary party. <\/p>\n
Deputy McAuliffe said: “Bertie’s been around a long time, there’s no doubt he would have been a hugely qualified candidate, he has huge international experience, and there’s no doubt his work on the Good Friday Agreement would have stood to him.<\/p>\n
“But he’s made that calculation that he can’t secure a nomination through the parliamentary party.” <\/p>\n
Deputy McAuliffe is backing Jim Gavin for the nomination, saying “you pick someone who resonates with you”. <\/p>\n
He said Fianna F\u00e1il will support the candidate that it chooses in a secret ballot of the parliamentary party next week, whether Jim Gavin or MEP Billy Kelleher MEP. <\/p>\n
Listen: Bertie Ahern pulls out of \u00c1ras race, would not run as an Independent<\/p>\n
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Two people set to meet criteria as Fianna F\u00e1il nominations to close<\/p>\n