Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today, Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly confirmed he will not seek his party’s nomination for the presidency, calling it the “most difficult decision” of his political life.
The Ireland South MEP said he had considered a potential run “seriously,” but ultimately decided to continue his work in Europe.
“I had to make up my own mind, having consulted with my family,” Kelly said.
“My mind was never made up and I was thinking seriously about it.”
Kelly stated he had asked himself whether he would be happier spending seven years at Áras an Uachtaráin, but concluded, “perhaps not.”
Describing the presidency as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity, he said “an awful lot of TDs” and supporters had urged him to run, both from inside and outside Fine Gael.
“The best thing would be to continue the work I’ve been doing there,” he said of his role as an MEP.
“When I look at it deeply, it’s a largely ceremonial role and you don’t have that much power and influence…I like to be involved politically.”
Notably, this is very similar to the reasoning he gave for not running for the Dáil in 2024.
In a 2023 interview, Kelly was asked to respond to a rumour that he may give up his seat in Europe to run in the general election in Kerry.
Kelly shot down the notion at the time, saying that the idea didn’t come from him.
“I did speak to Fine Gael,” he said at the time, adding that they had asked him to consider running for the Dáil.
“But I told them that my commitment was to Europe, that I hoped to run in the elections on June 7th next year…”
He went on to claim that 70% of legislation now comes from Europe, and that the Dáil often is just “transposing” what’s decided in Brussels, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to become a TD when he was already an MEP.
“Many people don’t realise that 70% of legislation comes from Europe, and that in the Dáil they’re often only transposing what’s decided,” he said.
“So I think I probably can contribute better to Kerry and to Ireland by continuing hopefully where I am.”
So far, only former Fianna Fáil minister Mary Hanafin has publicly expressed interest in the presidency. Sinn Féin has said it has “not ruled out” a run by party leader Mary Lou McDonald, while former RTÉ broadcaster Joe Duffy has ruled himself out.
Attention within Fine Gael now turns to former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, who is widely seen as a leading contender for the nomination.
Kelly described McGuinness as “a very good prospect,” and said he would support her if she is selected by the party.
“I’m sure I, and all Fine Gael people, will support her,” he said.
“I would have welcomed a contest, but that would require more than one candidate.”
He added that by declaring his decision early, he hoped to give others the space to consider running.
“I wanted to make up my mind today so that people would have an opportunity to nominate whoever they wanted to in due course,” he said.
“There’s still plenty of time, let’s see how it pans out.”
The upcoming presidential election is expected to take place later this year as current President Michael D. Higgins approaches the end of his second seven-year term.
McGuinness’s potential candidacy could draw further scrutiny following the recent revelation that she claimed hundreds of thousands of euro in MEP expenses for office rent and related costs while using a family-owned property in Co. Meath as her constituency office.
While her claims complied with European Parliament rules, the issue has generated some internal concern within Fine Gael about the potential for controversy in a presidential campaign.
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