Former Fine Gael minister Frances Fitzgerald will not seek the party’s nomination to run for president.
Ms Fitzgerald told The Irish Times the decision she made not to run still stands and has not changed in the wake of Mairead McGuinness’s shock departure from the race.
It means the party’s attention will now fall on emerging favourite Heather Humphreys and former MEP Seán Kelly to replace Ms McGuinness as the Fine Gael candidate. Mr Kelly is already understood to be reconsidering his decision not to run.
Ms Fitzgerald, a former MEP and senior minister, said in April that while she had given it serious consideration, she would not be seeking her party’s nomination.
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“My decision stands, that I made earlier in the year. This doesn’t change it for me. I made a decision that I wouldn’t be contesting, wouldn’t be seeking a nomination, and that remains my position at present,” she said on Friday.
Ms Fitzgerald’s decision to rule herself out comes as Mr Kelly is actively reconsidering his decision not to contest this year’s presidential election.
It is understood that Ms McGuinness’s departure has changed the upcoming contest for the former GAA president.
A source close to Mr Kelly said while the MEP was “very sad” for Ms McGuinness, the contest was now a “new ball game”.
In July, Mr Kelly ruled himself out and said deciding not to run for president was the “most difficult decision” of his political life, with Ms McGuinness winning the nomination unopposed.
Independent Minister Michael Healy-Rae earlier backed former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys to run.
Mr Healy-Rae was speaking as Fine Gael prepared to find another candidate in the wake of Ms McGuinness‘s shock exit from the race, on health grounds.
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Ms Humphreys did not run in last year’s general election. But she has emerged as a favoured candidate among the parliamentary party. She said in May she was not interested in running for president, but there are hopes within her party that she may be open to changing her mind.
Mr Healy Rae told RTÉ News on Friday that Ms Humphreys would have a broad appeal.
“Quite simply because she’s a very well-grounded person, what I would call a sound, solid political performer. She’d be an excellent person, both nationally and internationally, to fly the flag for Ireland. I would consider her a very safe, sound pair of hands,” said Mr Healy-Rae.
“I’ve seen her during Dáil debates, taking Leaders’ Questions and I would consider her to be very professional, very respectful about the way she carries herself, and she would have very broad appeal throughout the country.”
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The Fine Gael executive council is expected to meet this weekend to decide its next steps in advance of the presidential election, which is expected to be held in late October.
Independent Senator Michael McDowell said he had been contacted by several people after Ms McGuinness’s exit asking him to reconsider his decision not to contest the presidency.
“There aren’t any circumstances in existence that would make me do it,” he said, adding that he thinks he is “more useful” outside of Áras an Uachtaráin.
Mr McDowell declined to name those approaching him, but said, “you’d be surprised. But it’s not Simon Harris or Micheál Martin.”
