Martin McGuinness to be named as Sinn Féins candidate for the Presidential Election?

Wolfe Tone

Rumors all over twitter and elsewhere that he will be named as Sinn Féins presidential candidate this evening.

He would be an excellent choice imo, he would certainly get my vote and he should preform decently in the election, although I wouldn't expect him to win.

He would be the perfect man to oversee the centenary of the Easter rising. He has proved himself a very capable statesman and he has handled the difficult position of deputy first minister with ease. He is a great republican and Irishman.

Even Reverend David Latimer, a Presbyterian minister, has said that Martin McGuinness is a "great leader". He would be a great president too.

The Sindo certainly won't like this election!

seamus

Can't see a Sinn Féin candidate winning the presidency tbh. Though I think only himself or Gerry could make a good go of it, they're generally considerable "likeable" down south. Anyone else under a SF banner would tank.

I also can't see the logic in moving from his current position to a ceremonial one like Irish president. It would seem to me to be a step down for anyone with such a strong stake in NI politics like McGuinnes.

lugha

seamus wrote: »

Can't see a Sinn Féin candidate winning the presidency tbh. Though I think only himself or Gerry could make a good go of it, they're generally considerable "likeable" down south.

I also can't see the logic in moving from his current position to a ceremonial one like Irish president. It would seem to me to be a step down for anyone with such a strong stake in NI politics like McGuinnes.

I'd agree. I think Michelle Gildernew is a much better bet. Plus McGuinness, like any candidate, will have his past thoroughly scrutinised. And there is a thing or three there that will put many off!

Zubeneschamali

seamus wrote: »

I also can't see the logic in moving from his current position to a ceremonial one like Irish president.

He and everyone in SF know that they can't possibly win, that's not the point.

Wolfe Tone

Sinn Féin need 3 extra Oireachtas members to nominate someone, I would assume they have them lined up.

TiGeR KiNgS

How would he balance the positions on the island?

Who would take over the ODFM ?

Good republican yes, Good man yes but terrible choice imo.

It will probably be Gerry Adams

dlofnep

It would be interesting to see. I don't think McGuinness minds being scrutinized. He has always been very forthcoming with his past - and many people empathise with anyone who grew up in Derry when he did, with how they were treated by the state, and the armed forces.

Fr Tod Umptious

So much for SF facilitating a non SF candidate, if it's true.

Terribly choice, the whole thing with him being in the IRA army council will be enough to mean he will get savaged during the campaign.

SF are at least 20 years for a chance of winning the presidency.
Any of the old northern types are two stained, and rightly so, by the past and the Paerse Doherty's and Mary Looos of the world are too young right now.

baldbear

Will he be able to vote for himself???

Its a good choice by SF. They know they haven't a chance of winning but its all about promoting the party in a all-ireland basis and they will smash FF, again.

blahfckingblah

Wow that seems kind of crazy, from one point of view they have none of the "major" names in NI if they do but he will have a decent chance of getting it.

Wolfe Tone

baldbear wrote: »

Will he be able to vote for himself???

Its a good choice by SF. They know they haven't a chance of winning but its all about promoting the party in a all-ireland basis and they will smash FF, again.

Disgracefully I don't think so. Something I am sure he will be quick to point out on the campaign trail, the disgraceful situation which exists where people in the north cannot vote in the presidential election.

Fr Tod Umptious

baldbear wrote: »

Will he be able to vote for himself???

Its a good choice by SF. They know they haven't a chance of winning but its all about promoting the party in a all-ireland basis and they will smash FF, again.

If they wish to promote the party in an all Ireland basis as you say them I would think a candidate from the South would be better.

One problem with SF is that most of us down here consider them a NI party, and running and old nordie like McGuniness does nothing to change that.

NSNO

He hasn't a hope. Higgins may be the big beneficiary... can see a number of Fine Gael voters giving Higgins preferences now to keep McGuinness out where they previously may have left him off of their ballot.

This has probably scuppered Norris' bid as well, don't think he'll be able to get the Oireachtas numbers without Sinn Féin's help. His only hope is Fianna Fáil now at this stage. And one should never hold out much hope when they're relying on that shower...

pablomakaveli

Will he have to resign from Stormont if he does?

Zubeneschamali

NSNO wrote: »

can see a number of Fine Gael voters giving Higgins preferences now to keep McGuinness out where they previously may have left him off of their ballot.

Yes, I'll even give that Dragon's Den joke candidate a preference now, just so I can put the SF guy last. Well, unless some FFer gets in the race, in which case the SFer will be second last.

Nevermind

NSNO

RTE have confirmed it.

"Breaking News: Sinn Féin to put forward Martin McGuinness as a candidate in the upcoming election for President of Ireland #aras11"

Wolfe Tone

pablomakaveli wrote: »

Will he have to resign from Stormont if he does?

I would assume Gerry Kelly would take over as acting deputy first minister while he is running, if he wins he would resign from Stormont, otherwise he would return as deputy first minister.

Sir Oxman

This is getting good now...

Wolfe Tone

gambiaman wrote: »

This is getting good now...

Get the popcorn

GSF

Enda can just arrange endless royal visits from various European countries to keep him occcupied making them tea & showing them around Dublin

Sir Oxman

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Get the popcorn

Hell yeah!

The established meeja bandwagons are circling already!

NSNO

The more I think about this the more I can see the big losers being Fianna Fáil because as it currently stands McGuinness will place a very credible third and will trounce any candidate FF put into the contest.

Combined with a disastrous by-election result for FF/good showing by SF/leadership heave in FF and FF will be on the floor again.

paky

this is fantastic news! mcguinness has a great shot at winning.

i was keen on voting for norris but considering he has no backbone and failed his first major challenge as a leader, he wont be getting my vote now. McGuninness all the way.

TAL

Sir Oxman

Noel Whelan on drivetime on the numbers - 10% guaranteed, easily make 20%, looking at maybe 30% ! FPVs of course

NSNO

paky wrote: »

this is fantastic news! mcguinness has a great shot at winning.

i was keen on voting for norris but considering he has no backbone and failed his first major challenge as a leader, he wont be getting my vote now. McGuninness all the way.

TAL

C'mon mate, don't delude yourself. McGuinness doesn't have a chance. He's anathema to the middle classes.

Godge

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Yes, I'll even give that Dragon's Den joke candidate a preference now, just so I can put the SF guy last. Well, unless some FFer gets in the race, in which case the SFer will be second last.

Know how you feel, was only going to vote in the referenda and the by-election but now I will have to decide which of the other eejits to put in front of the SF candidate.

paky

NSNO wrote: »

C'mon mate, don't delude yourself. McGuinness doesn't have a chance. He's anathema to the middle classes.

in all fairness, look at the opposition he has, norris is the only real threat.

why am i 'deluding' myself?

Wolfe Tone

paky wrote: »

in all fairness, look at the opposition he has, norris is the only real threat.

why am i 'deluding' myself?

I wouldnt expect him to win, it really doesn't matter, its about raising the profile of the party and getting the message out.

I hope he wins though.

paky

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I wouldnt expect him to win, it really doesn't matter, its about raising the profile of the party and getting the message out.

I hope he wins though.

why wouldnt you expect him to win? hes a household name around ireland. norris may have big support in and around dublin but the fact that hes gay wouldnt draw many votes from conservative irish people in rural areas

dlofnep

I await the hilarious levels of outrage from the Sindo at his candidacy. It's worth it, just to annoy them.

Wolfe Tone

dlofnep wrote: »

I await the hilarious levels of outrage from the Sindo at his candidacy. It's worth it, just to annoy them.

I cant wait

NSNO

paky wrote: »

in all fairness, look at the opposition he has, norris is the only real threat.

why am i 'deluding' myself?

Because the Irish people will never elect a former member of the IRA Army Council as President. Simple as that. He may well come second on the first count, but he won't get a transfer from anyone supporting Higgins or Mitchell and from very few Norris supporters.

Wolfe Tone

NSNO wrote: »

Because the Irish people will never elect a former member of the IRA Army Council as President. Simple as that. He may well come second on the first count, but he won't get a transfer from anyone supporting Higgins or Mitchell and from very few Norris supporters.

I seem to remember being told that the people of Louth would never elect Adams, that SF would never get past x amount of TDS, that the unionists would never sit in government with SF etc etc etc..

Have you not learned, that when it comes to Irish politics, you can never say never?

NSNO

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I seem to remember being told that the people of Louth would never elect Adams, that SF would never get past x amount of TDS, that the unionists would never sit in government with SF etc etc etc..

Have you not learned, that when it comes to Irish politics, you can never say never?

I never said any of the above, so I fail to see the relevance.

Sinn Féin don't get transfers. They didn't even get transfers in the recent General Election. And a monkey with a "I hate Fianna Fáil" sign would've gotten transfers in that election.

phantom_lord

I wonder will that strengthen Martin's resolve against running a candidate. Would be embarrassing for Labhrás Ó Murch to be beaten by a SF candidate.

Zubeneschamali

NSNO wrote: »

And a monkey with a "I hate Fianna Fáil" sign would've gotten transfers in that election.

Hey! I voted Bobo #1!

mike65

LOL, well I'd rate him above Adams but he is in danger of looking like a serial office holder.

paky

NSNO wrote: »

Because the Irish people will never elect a former member of the IRA Army Council as President. Simple as that. He may well come second on the first count, but he won't get a transfer from anyone supporting Higgins or Mitchell and from very few Norris supporters.

hes gona get my vote for sure.
it seems to be always the case here on boards around election time we see the resurrection of old user accounts and it becomes even more frustatingly difficult to post here when your account keeps getting frozen! WTF

blahfckingblah

I imagine Keith will be foaming at the mouth by this stage

Wolfe Tone

blahfckingblah wrote: »

I imagine Keith will be foaming at the mouth by this stage

At the prospect of losing his beloved deputy first minister

He needn't worry, there are capable replacements!

dulpit

Taking aside everything about McGuinness, and just looking solely at his role of Deputy First Minister. What does it say to all members of the Assembly (Unionists in particular) when he decides he wants to run for president of a different jurisdiction.

I don't think he will win, so will he simply step aside from the role for 6 weeks then come straight back into the job?

NSNO

paky wrote: »

hes gona get my vote for sure.
it seems to be always the case here on boards around election time we see the resurrection of old user accounts and it becomes even more frustatingly difficult to post here when your account keeps getting frozen! WTF

Hm? I post regularly enough on boards.ie, read it every day or so. Rarely do I post if I can't add something new to a discussion.

Let's face it, election time is the only time this forum moves beyond anything but Wolfe Tone vs. KeithAFC debate #4079, hating the unions, hating the bankers, hating FF, hating FG, hating Labour, hating the EU............ etc. etc.

Would my opinion be more valid if I had a thousand more posts? Would I fit in to the little 'club' here better then?

vellocet

NSNO wrote: »

Because the Irish people will never elect a former member of the IRA Army Council as President. Simple as that. He may well come second on the first count, but he won't get a transfer from anyone supporting Higgins or Mitchell and from very few Norris supporters.

Really?

NSNO

vellocet wrote: »

Really?

Yawn. We both know that in the collective memory and opinion of the Irish people that there is a massive difference between Martin McGuinness and those two men. Any attempt at comparing them is either deliberate disingenuity or utter delusion.

Sir Oxman

A major Sinn Fein candidate, 2016 - waits in anticipation of many heads exploding with outrage!

steddyeddy

It is martin mcguinness! Well its a brave choice wonder how it will go down!

blahfckingblah

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

At the prospect of losing his beloved deputy first minister

He needn't worry, there are capable replacements!

Plenty of viable candidates for that job as joint leader

phantom_lord

gambiaman wrote: »

A major Sinn Fein candidate, 2016 - waits in anticipation of many heads exploding with outrage!

What would cause outrage? I think most would have been surprised if they didn't run someone. No chance of winning anyway.

mike65

When taking the salute I imagine the Irish Army would be far too polite to shoot the President of Ireland dead.

Sir Oxman

phantom_lord wrote: »

What would cause outrage? I think most would have been surprised if they didn't run someone. No chance of winning anyway.

It's SF. It's McGuinness. What's not to draw outrage!

Just heard on TV3, if elected he will draw the avg. industrial wage for himself.
That's one box ticked for me - Mr Higgins waffled and did not answer the question when asked although he said he'd defer his multiple taxpayers provided pensions.