After months of uncertainty, Sinn Féin has announced that their long-awaited “game changer” candidate for the Presidential election will be Independent Catherine Connolly.
For months the party had been uncertain about whether or not they would run a candidate, with speculation circulating around in-house names such as Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Finance Spokesman Pearse Doherty, and more.
Other names such as GAA President Jarlath Burns were also floated.
The decision was made to back the Galway Independent following a meeting of the party’s Ard Comhairle this morning. Explaining the decision, McDonald told the media in Dublin today that the party had “engaged with parties and individuals across the opposition” to reach this choice.
She said that the party’s main priorities are to “keep Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil out of Government”, and to “keep them out of the Áras”, saying this move would help to achieve both of those aims.
She also said it is “wrong” that citizens in Northern Ireland don’t have a vote in the Presidential election, adding that “inch-by-inch we are getting closer to a United Ireland.”
She further thanked outgoing President Michael D. Higgins for his “service”, saying he embodies Ireland’s “democratic values”, and adding: “When President Higgins speaks, people listen.
“She said that she believed Connolly would continue in the same tradition and “act in the collective interest.”
Connolly has already received the backing of the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit, and is seen as a unified Left-wing candidate.