“My priority now is my health. With the election approaching rapidly, I doubt I have the strength to fully commit to the campaign,” McGuinness stated in a release from her political party, Fine Gael.
Her departure requires the centrist Fine Gael party, part of four coalition governments since 2011, to swiftly find a new candidate. Potential successors include former MEP Seán Kelly, former Justice Minister and MEP Frances Fitzgerald, and former Business Minister Heather Humphreys.
“This has been a terrible surprise to us all,” said Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, Ireland’s minister for foreign affairs, trade, and defense.
Ireland’s presidency, a largely ceremonial post distinct from government, spans a seven-year term, accompanied by a stately home in Dublin’s extensive Phoenix Park and a platform to share views on national matters. The two-term incumbent, Michael D. Higgins of the opposition Labour Party, cannot seek another term due to constitutional limits.
McGuinness’ exit leaves just one serious contender: socialist Galway lawmaker Catherine Connolly. The principal government coalition party, Fianna Fáil, and the main opposition party, Sinn Féin, are expected to select candidates in September.
Other potential candidates include retired mixed-martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, Riverdance star Michael Flatley, and pharmaceutical entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan. None have secured the necessary minimum support from Ireland’s political system to appear on the final ballot.
A candidate needs backing from at least 20 members of parliament or four local councils to become an official candidate.
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