Could Joe Duffy replace Michael D Higgins?
Ireland will elect a new President this autumn, with the popular two term incumbent due to retire on November 11th.
Although there is not yet a favourite candidate to replace Mr Higgins, several prominent names are being discussed in Leinster House and beyond.
Notably, Joe Duffy has been mentioned as one potential candidate.
On The Pat Kenny Show, Irish Independent journalist Fionnan Sheehan said the former RTÉ presenter has been coy about his ambitions.
“He was being asked about this several times on Friday as he was being farewelled from RTÉ after his long stint there,” he said.
“He was basically saying, ‘Oh, it’s embarrassing to hear my name being mentioned. Don’t be losing the run of yourself.’
“It didn’t sound to me like a categorical ruling it out, so let’s just see.”
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Another possibility is that a number of left-wing parties will come together and nominate a candidate.
Such a strategy has strong historical precedence; Mary Robinson was nominated by the Labour Party, the Green Party and Workers’ Party in 1990.
21 years later, Michael D Higgins successfully contested the 2011 election as a Labour Party candidate.
“Earlier on in the year, Ivana Bacik was talking about a unified left-wing candidate that Labour, the Soc Dems, the Greens and like-minded independents could come together and back one person,” Mr Sheehan explained.
“The only problem is they don’t have anybody and three, four months later, they’re still scouting about.
“It was telling last week to hear Frances Black rule herself out of the contention… It looks like this dream left-wing candidate just isn’t emerging.”
Áras an Uachtaráin. Picture by: Alamy.com.Mr Sheehan said it is “still early days”, with August or September considered the ideal for a presidential hopeful to announce their candidacy.
Former Fianna Fáil Education Minister Mary Hanafin has thrown her hat into the ring, while former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has remained coy about his ambitions.
Former European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness is considered a strong contender for the Fine Gael nomination.
“We’re expecting now, there will definitely be a Fine Gael candidate,” Mr Sheehan said.
“Now [it’s] more likely there’ll be a Fianna Fáil candidate and probably then a Sinn Féin candidate.
“There will probably still be a gap there for someone who is of an independent or soft-left ideological stance to go into the race as well.”
President Higgins hands Taoiseach Micheál Martinhis seals of office. Picture by: Evan Treacy / © RollingNews.ieWithin Sinn Féin, First Minister Michelle O’Neil has ruled herself out of the race.
However, there is speculation that her colleague, Belfast North MP John Finucane, could run.
Meanwhile, Foyle MP and former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he planned to “take the time to think about” standing in the election.
Main image: Michal D Higgins and Joe Duffy. Pictures by: DPPA/Sipa USA and RollingNews.ie.
