Presidential Election 2025

Maybe. If they're politics and current affairs minded. That is, that they aren't staying at home just because they can't be arsed, but rather because they feel they aren't represented well enough by any of the 3 already nominated.

I feel myself from working elections for 30 years, that that number isn't huge.

I thought exactly the same when I saw it. If the DUP are really anti HH. It is should be a reason to vote for her.

Well, that will go down well with the SF supporters who are always justifying IRA violence as a means to an end.

No doubt spinning will start in 3,2,1…

Well he would never be forced into anything by some "community activists" in Belfast.

Maybe this is the final term for Lowry so he could defy the government,

If he was in puckish contrarian mood maybe. But this guy has been at the heart of the action for 30+ years, wouldn't strike me as the sort to a great buzz from being "the man who got Maria Steen on the ballot." Plus him being on wife no. 2, I doubt he has much personal investment in her socially conservative agenda…

It's ironically sections of the media manufacturing an "incident" on the O'Doherty nomination 7 years ago because of aspects of her character that weren't known at the time that has many of the Independents too fearful to back Steen today because who knows what'll come out about the murky Iona Institute and its funding by the time the next election rolls around.

It's like reading the same Stephen Collins article on loop in this thread...dreadful stuff.

Connolly said nothing wrong last night, she could have formulated it better and she should know that the centrist media are awaiting every opportunity to tarnish her.

Some of the commentary today is laughable, it's like this country never went through post conflict processes and resolutions. Connolly was spot on in critiquing Starmer too.

Anyway, interesting if Steen makes it, I always think it's good for the Catholic reactionaries to have a platform to illustrate their decline in influence and power. She hasn't a snowballs chance of winning but she'll try tap into the result of the family referendums to garner some support. I wonder if she'll play the race/migrant card to win support too. I think she'll be the only candidate standing on a platform of women having too many rights!!!

If she makes the 20 nominations or even falls two short it's interesting to note that some of the early posts in this thread were dismissive of those of use who argued there was a route to a nomination here.

Lastly, back to Connolly - she was disingenuously hammered here for facilitating Gemma O'Doherty getting on the ballot paper previously, though not supporting her. Yet, Harkin etc are 'facilitating' Steen and not 'supporting' her...I hope some of the posters who articulated that nonsense will be consistent now...not holding my breath.

I did my due diligence on that nomination and you are correct, the jury was very much out on Gemma at the time, and she had a reputation as a good journalist at one time.

 For sure, you think everything she said is right and correct, but she lost a lot of other people who didn't think like you do.

Yep this stuff is liking firing up her base but rendering her more and more toxic to the cehtre ground, even the leftish end of it who she needs to have any chance…