Independent candidate Nick Delehanty has bowed out of the Presidential race as a slew of county councils effectively blocked non-party candidates from attaining a nomination.
In a video posted to X, the popular commentator thanked everyone who supported his campaign, and said his team had “fought all the way to the line”. He added that he hoped barrister Maria Steen would be successful in her bid to getting on the ballot, saying three candidates were not enough.
Responding to Mr Delehanty, Cllr Ciarán Fisher (Dundalk-Carlingford) said the Independent candidate had “done a great job at documenting the mechanics, difficulties and flaws of the presidential nomination process. Your focus on out-of-control and wasteful government spending, has been an important asset to political dialogue in this country.”
“I hope your forensic skill-set can continue to call this out, as you build towards the next election,” he added.
Mr Delehanty has built a large following for his examination of government spending on asylum accommodation and other initiatives, and says he is now focusing on the next general election.
Independent Senator Sharon Keogan, who had assisted independent candidates in seeking nominations from the local authorities said that the current process, where the only way for non-party candidates to seek a nomination was by gaining the support of 20 members of the Oireachtas or 4 local authorities, had proved to be a “waste of time, money and energy for Independent candidates.”
“We need a constitutional referendum to change the election process for president,” she said. “I propose the following: 1) 20 signatures from senators or TDs 2) 115 signatures from county councillors 3) 10,000 signatures from registered voters.
She said the “County Council route is too difficult for Independent candidates especially when the majority of councils have FF and FG as a majority.”