Senator Craughwell Will Not Contest Presidential Election

Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell has pulled out of the presidential elections.

In a statement last year, Craughwell said he was concerned that the main political parties were "working together to deny the citizens of this Republic the opportunity to select their next President by means of an election."

According to RTÉ News, Craughwell said he feared the party whip would stop Oireachtas members and councillors from exercising their democratic right to nominate candidates and the Presidency would be "rolled over" uncontested for another seven years.

Craughwell said his reason for putting himself forward was to open up a "serious national conversation on the presidential nomination and election process."

He welcomed Sinn Féin's announcement that they would be putting forward a candidate and that Fianna Fáil councillors would be free to nominate independent candidates.

The senator said he was satisfied that he achieved the object he set out last year. President Michael Higgins said he will be seeking a second term as President.

To be fair, we wouldn't want to run against Miggeldy either.