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2025 Irish presidential election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2025 Irish presidential election is due to take place by 11 November 2025.[1][c] The election will determine the tenth president of the Republic of Ireland. The incumbent president, Michael D. Higgins, is term-limited, having served the maximum two terms permitted under the Constitution of Ireland.
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Procedure
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Presidential elections are conducted in line with Article 12 of the Constitution[4] and under the Presidential Elections Act 1993.[5] The president is elected through instant-runoff voting (described in the constitution as proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote).[6] All Irish citizens entered on the current electoral register are eligible to vote.[4] The 2025 election will be the first presidential election since the 2023 establishment of the Electoral Commission.
Dates
The term of the incumbent, Michael D. Higgins, ends on 11 November 2025. Assuming Higgins does not die or leave office before then, the Constitution requires the election to be not more than 60 days before 11 November. The date of the election will be fixed by ministerial order of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Candidates may only be nominated after the making of the presidential election order, which will also specify a closing date for nominations.
Nominations
To stand for election as president of Ireland, candidates must:
- be a citizen of Ireland
- be at least 35 years of age
- be nominated by:
- at least 20 of the 234 serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, or
- at least 4 of the 31 county or city councils, or
- themselves, in the case of a former or retiring president who has served one 7-year term (currently only Mary Robinson).
If a member of the Oireachtas or a County or City council nominate more than one candidate, only the first nomination paper received from them will be deemed valid.[5] Under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011, there is a spending limit by each candidate of €750,000.[11] Candidates who are elected or who reach 12.5% of the vote on their elimination are entitled to a reimbursement of expenses up to €200,000.[12]
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Candidate selection
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Fine Gael
In March, the Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, confirmed that the party would nominate a candidate to contest the election.[13] Candidates require the nomination of 20 members of the parliamentary party, 25 party councillors, and 5 members of the executive council. Fine Gael opened nominations for selection as the party candidate on 7 July.
Among those who had declined to run from Fine Gael at that time were Frances Fitzgerald,[14][15][16] Enda Kenny,[17] Heather Humphreys[18] and Leo Varadkar.[19]
The nomination period initially closed at 4 pm on 15 July. Mairead McGuinness, former European commissioner and MEP, was the only candidate nominated. She was expected to be ratified at an event in September.[20][21] However, she withdrew on 14 August, following medical advice.[22]
Following the withdrawal of McGuinness, Fine Gael reopened the nomination process on 18 August 2025. Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly confirmed that they would seek the nomination.[23][24]
Fianna Fáil
In July 2025, the leader of Fianna Fáil, Micheál Martin, stated that the party would not run a candidate unless that candidate "would command a very broad consensus or would have a realistic opportunity of getting a significant vote".[25]
Much media speculation has been surrounding Bertie Ahern's potential campaign,[26][27][28] with most party supporters surveyed supporting his possible candidacy announcement,[29][30] whilst other figures that have been speculated for Fianna Fáil selection include Packie Bonner,[31] Geraldine Byrne Nason,[32] Colum Eastwood,[33][34] Pat "the Cope" Gallagher,[35][36] Mary Hanafin,[37][38] Deirdre Heenan,[39] Billy Kelleher,[40] Cynthia Ní Mhurchú,[41] Éamon Ó Cuív,[42] Peter Power[43] and Niall Quinn.[44]
From Fianna Fáil, those who ruled themselves out included Micheál Martin,[45] Barry Andrews[46] and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn.
Sinn Féin
On 12 July 2025, the leader of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald stated that the party was considering its options on the presidential election and would arrive at a decision in the coming weeks. John Finucane, Rose Conway-Walsh and McDonald are considered possible Sinn Féin candidates.[47][48] In March 2025, McDonald had stated that she would not be the Sinn Féin nominee.[49] However, in July she stated the party was "not ruling anything out", including herself as a candidate.[50][51][52]
Those who declined to run on behalf of Sinn Féin included Jarlath Burns (not a party member), Gerry Adams and Michelle O'Neill.[53][54][55][56]
Joint left-wing candidate
Throughout 2025, left-wing parties discussed running a jointly nominated candidate, with talks involving Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, the Greens, and People Before Profit. According to Paul Murphy, however, the viability of a unified bid depended on whether Sinn Féin opt to back a consensus choice or field its own candidate.[57] Amongst those considered as the candidate for the joint ticket were Frances Black, Noeline Blackwell (former CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre),[58] Claire Hanna,[59] and Fintan O'Toole.[60] Eamon Ryan,[61][62] Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns,[32][63] and Róisín Shortall all declared early on that they would not enter the running.[64]
Frances Black and Catherine Connolly were considered the two main contenders for the ticket; however, on 24 June, Black ruled herself out of contention.[65]
On 11 July 2025, Catherine Connolly confirmed she would be running for president.[66] The Social Democrats (with 12 Oireachtas members) released a statement later that day stating they would be supporting Connolly.[67] People Before Profit (with 2 TDs), 100% Redress TD Charles Ward, independent TDs Séamus Healy and Brian Stanley and independent senator Eileen Flynn have also confirmed they will support Connolly; including her self-nomination, bringing Connolly to 19 of the 20 nominations required.[68][69]
On 31 July, following consultation with its membership, the Labour Party decided to support Connolly's candidacy. The support of Labour's 13 Oireachtas members cemented Connolly's nomination.[70] Before backing Connolly, Labour had considered Ivana Bacik,[71] Fergus Finlay,[72] Brendan Howlin[73] and Michael J. Ryan[74] as candidates. Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin had previously ruled himself out of the selection.[75]
Aontú
In April 2025 Aontú party leader Peadar Tóibín stated that the party would seek to nominate a candidate.[76][77] In July, Tóibín said Aontú would seek to create a "selection block" or a "nominating caucus" with other small parties and independents who would pick a candidate to represent them using a PR-STV vote.[78][79] Tóibín has stated he himself will not be the candidate.[77]
Non-party/Independent
In December 2023 it was reported that Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor was considering running in the election,[80][81] As to why he would run, McGregor said, "Among many other things, the allocation of our nation's funds has been nothing short of criminal, and without an iota of consideration for the public's thinking. ... Our people feel ignored. Unheard. Until of course election time. Then the waffle begins."[80] A poll that month found that eight per cent of people polled would vote for McGregor for office, while 89 per cent said they would not.[82] On 17 March 2025, McGregor visited the White House in Washington DC at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, for a Saint Patrick's Day event. During the visit, McGregor claimed that Ireland was "on the cusp of losing its Irishness" due to an "illegal immigration racket." His comments were widely condemned in Ireland.[83] During the visit, he announced his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the election.[84] Although McGregor's candidacy made international headlines, domestic Irish news sources noted it is extremely unlikely that McGregor will gain access to the ballot.[85][86] McGregor came to realise as much, and in August 2025 began to threaten he would legally challenge the process by which someone can become a candidate for President, which is outlined in the Irish constitution.[87]
In March 2025, Businessman and perennial candidate Peter Casey announced his intentions to again run for President.[88] Former Riverdance star Michael Flatley announced on 25 July that he would seek to gain the required nominations to enter the race.[89] On 9 August, businessman Gareth Sheridan confirmed previous reporting that he would be seeking to gain nominations.[90] Senator Aubrey McCarthy said on 20 August that he would "seriously consider" running for president, including the possibility of being the "de facto" Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin candidate.[91]
Among independents and non-party figures, those who declined to run included senators Tom Clonan[92] and Sharon Keogan,[93] broadcaster Olivia O'Leary,[94] Luke 'Ming' Flanagan,[95] Seán Gallagher[96] and Michael McDowell.[97] Mick Wallace said he would not run if Catherine Connolly were on the ballot, later endorsing her when she launched.[98][99] Both Fianna Fáil and Labour were interested in contacting broadcaster Joe Duffy to stand, but Duffy declined.[100] On 18 August, Tony Holohan announced he would not be running, despite previous consideration and some favorable polling.[101]
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Candidates
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A number of individuals have declared their intention to seek the necessary nominations to run in the election, and a number of political parties have declared their intention to nominate a candidate. The period for nomination of candidates has not yet opened.
Confirmed candidates
The following candidates have enough pledged nominations from Oireachtas members to stand for election.[102]
Candidates seeking nomination
The following candidates have not yet acquired enough declared support for a nomination.
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Withdrawn candidates
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Debates
In June 2025, RTÉ announced that it will host a number of programmes in the lead up to the election; Katie Hannon will be the presenter.[114]
Opinion polling
A: Gareth Sheridan: 3%
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Notes
- Catherine Connolly TD
- Séamus Healy TD
- Brian Stanley TD
- Senator Eileen Flynn.
- Contingencies which might delay the election include the death of a nominated candidate[2] or the calling of a Dáil general election.[3]
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References
External links
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