Foyle MP and former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood will not be running in the Irish presidential election later this year, according to BBC News NI.
They say he will “not be seeking a nomination to enter the contest” after he revealed on their Red Lines podcast earlier this month that he was concerned that the candidates were not treating Irish unity as a priority.
In June of this year, the former leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) confirmed that he was considering adding his name to the ballot for the presidency.
Eastwood was trying to gain the backing of political parties to run as an independent, but he says “now is not the right time” to stand.
Candidates must have the support of either 20 members of the Irish parliament (Oireachtas) or four of the 31 councils, and be aged at least 35 years old.
The current Irish president, Michael D. Higgins was elected as the ninth president in 2011, so having served three full terms is now ineligible for another term.
A mainly ceremonial role, the President of Ireland serves are the head of state and the supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces. They also represent the Irish state at home and abroad.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin, this week, has backed Jim Gavin, former Dublin GAA manager, as Fianna Fáil’s candidate for the presidential election.
