McGuinness set to launch bid to be Ireland’s president

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness is to bid to become president of Ireland in a move that has stunned Irish politics.

The Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, who is a former IRA leader but who became a champion of the peace process, will be formally endorsed by his party leadership this weekend.

The decision is already being billed as the republican movement’s most audacious political move since IRA prisoner Bobby Sands was elected an MP while on prison hunger strike in 1981.

It is understood party strategists believe that taking part in the campaign ahead of the Oct-ober polling day will help raise the profile of Sinn Fein, regardless of the result, at a time when it wants to build on its gains south of the Irish border.

But party leader Gerry Adams said Sinn Fein wanted to provide a real choice in the election for the Irish Republic’s head of state and believed Mr McGuinness could be “the people’s president”.

Mr Adams said: “I believe that this election will give Martin the platform to continue the work which he has led in the North and in the peace process and to put it on a national footing.

“I believe he can be the people’s president. If elected he will draw the average industrial wage.

“He will dedicate himself to a genuine national reconciliation and the unity of our people.

“He will personify hope in the great genius and integrity of all the people of this island – Catholics, Protestants and dissenters.”

The Sinn Fein leader added: “I would appeal, if Martin contests this election, for people to join in this campaign, including people in the North and across the diaspora who are denied a vote at this time.

“The campaign will give citizens the opportunity to make a stand for a better Ireland, for a united Ireland.” Mr Adams said: “Sinn Fein believes that the office of Uachtaran na hEireann has been made more relevant by Mary Robinson and by president Mary McAleese.

“This is a time of great challenge for all the people of Ireland. We need positive but authentic leadership.

Mrs McAleese, who is originally from Belfast, defied critics to become a major success as Irish president.

Her period in office was recently capped with the historic first state visit to the Republic by the Queen. Both heads of state laid wreaths to those who died fighting in British uniforms, plus dead Irish revolutionaries.

The president’s successor faces the prospect of following two historic periods of office by Mrs McAleese and, before her, Mary Robinson.

The women are seen to have broadened the role of the presidency to provide a platform for the marginalised and to build bridges between Catholics and Protestants across Ireland, north and south.

Independents Mary Davis and Sean Gallagher officially became candidates on Monday after each secured the necessary support. They are on course to fight it out with frontrunner Labour’s Michael D Higgins and Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell.