It is a big day in Laois County Council as candidates seeking nomination to be able to run for president of Ireland are here.
Laois County Council, as is the case with all councils, can only give their nomination to one candidate.
In 2018, Laois controversially decided to nominate former investigative journalist Gemma O’Doherty though she didn’t receive the support of any other council and thus wasn’t a candidate.
On that occasion, four councillors supported Gemma O’Doherty while the remainder abstained, allowing her to receive the Laois nomination.
On that occasion, neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael had a candidate themselves. Though councillors have the freedom to do what they want, those parties have 11 of the 19 councillors in Laois and do have the numbers to block a candidate if they wish.
Independent candidates in most cases aren’t asking party-affiliated councillors to vote for them, rather to abstain, which would allow them to get the support of that council.
The 2025 Irish presidential election is due to take place on October 24.
The election will determine the tenth President of Ireland and Michael D. Higgins cannot run again as he has served the maximum two terms permitted under the Constitution.
The period for nomination of candidates will run from now until September 24.
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