Fine Gael supporting President Michael D Higgins in election campaign

The Fine Gael Executive Council has decided (on foot of a proposal made by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD and supported by the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party) that Fine Gael will endorse and support the candidacy of President Michael D Higgins in any potential Presidential Election.

Speaking after tonight’s meeting, Chairman of Fine Gael’s Executive Council Gerry O’Connell said: “On six separate occasions in our party’s history, Fine Gael has put political partisanship to one side and has supported either an incumbent or an agreed Presidential candidate in the interests of national unity.

“In supporting Michael D Higgins, we acknowledge that he has demonstrated over the last seven years that he has been a model President who has brought great dignity to the Office and earned great affection from the nation.”

“We are committed to supporting his re-election unconditionally and are encouraging that the party membership on the whole to lend him their fullest support.

“As a consequence of tonight’s decision, we will be requesting that no Fine Gael councillor or Fine Gael council group nominates a candidate in opposition to Michael D Higgins,” Mr O’Connell said.