Presidential Election 2025

But the fact SF have not named a candidate yet, says to me two things. They have not found a credible candidate and/or are watching what the other parties are doing.
SF had years to prepare for this. Yet there is no clear decision made, And it is now late in the day.

I believe SF are worried that a SF candidate not “suited” to ROI politics would come under heavy scrutiny and damage the carefully cultivated SF ROI brand. The other parties don’t have that worry about that.

My prediction is SF will stick with the Lukewarm Connolly support. And nominate Jarlath Burns as SF Presidential candidate in 7 years time. And he would have a great chance of winning, then.

If the latest polling is anything to go by HH has 20%, JG has 17%, MLMD has 15% and CC has 13%… You would have to assume that HH and JG will transfer between each other as will the SF candidate and CC

That likely puts HH on 37% and the SF candidate or CC on 28% after transfers

We've seen from the Limerick mayor election last year that it's always better to be ahead in these races but there's a long way for both candidates to go to breach the 50% figure, the currently undecided voters will be absolutely crucial.

Well it wouldn’t be that odd SF not running a candidate would it? I mean no one ran against Higgins for his second term.

And by SF sitting it out again, they avoid awkward questions from the past, but can spin the optics as establishment v anti- establishment.

I think running Michelle O’Neill would be SF shooting itself in the foot. She wouldn’t be popular in the ROI. And her family history raises potential difficulties.

SF ran a candidate against Higgins.

You are right, it is gas to listen to the noise about them maybe sitting this one out for whatever reason when the two parties of government sat the last election out because they had no-one capable or willing to make it a contest.

Catherine Connolly:

Irish presidential election hopeful Catherine Connolly has said she would use her voice "in every way possible" for a united Ireland.

The independent member of the Dáil (Irish parliament) was speaking during a trip to Belfast as part of her campaign.

She denied it was a "waste of time" to visit Northern Ireland, where people cannot vote in the upcoming election for the Irish Republic.

"Wasting my time? Absolutely the opposite. I have always felt that we have cut off a limb of our body in having Northern Ireland cut off from us," she said.

Connolly expressed her support for Irish unity, but said she was "very conscious" this would only happen with the consent of the majority of citizens.

"It's a building of trust, and it's a building of a vision for a united Ireland where we value everybody," she added.

"Of course I would like to see it in my term as president, but whether that will happen will be a political decision.

"But I will use my voice in every way possible for that vision to be a reality."

Research and knowing what candidates are saying, is your friend.

It is hilarious tbh to see the parties of government actually behaving like the mythical beards from Belfast allegedly do and dictating from on high what their members must do.

It would be quite interesting if the final ballot only had 3 candidates, the two cheeks of government and Catherine Connolly thanks to the relentless pursuit of FF/FG to prevent others reaching the ballot. Only one place for anti-government votes to go, the only Independent on the ballot.

I would think this doesn't suit FF/FG at all, they've potentially coalesced all opposition and Independent voters behind one candidate.