Ireland - Election 2018
On 11 November 2011, Michael D. Higgins was inaugurated as the ninth President of Ireland. On 11 November 2018 he was inagugrated for a second term. Michael D Higgins was inaugurated as President of Ireland on 11 November 2011, meaning his seven year term would come to an end on 11 November 2018. If there would be an election in 2018 it must be held within 60 days of that date – so the earliest would be in mid-September. President Higgins had yet to declare whether he intends running for a second term by late 2017. Michael D has said he’s not going to announce whether he’ll run for the presidency until September 2018.
Almost two-thirds of voters (64%) said they would like President Higgins to remain in office in an October 2017 poll. He was widely regarded as a good ambassador for the country, and handled State occasions well. If he opted to go for a second term, Higgins may scare off potential candidates who might otherwise throw their hat in the ring. He was unlikely to get involved in the nitty-gritty of campaigning.
As Irish politics had become increasingly fragmented post the recession, councillors have flexed their muscles and availed of their nomination power The trend towards larger fields of candidates in modern presidential elections is explained by the increased willingness of county councils to bestow a nomination on prospective candidates.
A passionate political voice, a poet and writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society, Michael D. Higgins had previously served at almost every level of public life in Ireland, including as Ireland’s first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
As Ireland’s first Minister for the Arts in 1993-97, Michael D. Higgins’ achievements included the reinvigoration of the Irish film industry, the establishment of Teilifís na Gaeilge, now TG4, and the repeal of censorship under Section 31 of the Broadcasting Acts. He also established a rich network of local arts and cultural venues which brought a crucial access to citizens across Ireland to these facilities. Moreover, he drove the revitalisation of Ireland’s canal network, resulting in over 1,000 kilometers of navigable waterways, supporting thousands of jobs, and creating wealth in many rural and economically-deprived areas of the State.
The electorate on 27 October 2018 had a choice of six candidates for President (Peter Casey, Gavan Duffy, Joan Freeman, Sean Gallagher, Michael D. Higgins and Liadh Ni Riada) on the ballot paper. However, in terms of candidate numbers, this is not Ireland’s most competitive presidential election. This distinction belongs to 2011 when there were seven candidates were on the ballot paper. In 1997, five candidates were on the ballot paper. Prior to this, the most candidates on a presidential ballot paper was three, in both 1945 and 1990.
Eamon de Valera held the distinction of being the only president in the history of the office to have won two terms at the ballot box. Higgins was on course to share this distinction. An RTÉ News exit poll suggested Michael D Higgins was on course to be re-elected President with 58% of first preference votes. Higgins was elected for a second term as President of Ireland, with a total of 822,566 votes (55.8%). The exit poll also suggested that businessman Peter Casey will get 20.7% of the first preference vote. It suggested 6.3% for Senator Joan Freeman. Seán Gallagher’s support collapsed – in 2011 he received 28.5% of the first preference vote. The RTÉ exit poll put him at 5.5.%.
It was a disastrous election for Sinn Féin. In the previous general and presidential elections – Sinn Féin had consistently been building its support which had plateaued at around 15%. However, the RTÉ exit poll put Liadh Ní Riada on 7.4%. That was a serious blow and one that the party leader, Mary Lou MacDonald would have to take full responsibility for.
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