Irish Republic will have a presidential election after all

The country didn’t need a presidential election until Sinn Féin announced in July that it would select a candidate to challenge President Michael D. Higgins.

The Irish president, who said he only planned to remain in the position for one seven-year term when first elected, has enjoyed high popularity during his time in office. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour backed his bid for a second term, and he was considered unassailable.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that the move by Sinn Féin to run a candidate means it will be only the second time in the history of the modern Irish state that an incumbent president has been challenged.

The Sinn Féin announcement has drawn other candidates into the race, and the incumbent is now facing at least five contenders for the mainly ceremonial role.

Sinn Féin is reported to be considering a female candidate, and legislators Liadh Ní Riada and Michelle Gildernew are under consideration. Higgins’ immediate presidential predecessors were Mary Patricia McAleese (1997-2011) and Mary Robinson (1990-1997), the country's first woman president.