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The date for Ireland's presidential election was set for 22 October, 2004. However, nominations closed at noon on 1 October and the incumbent president, Mary McAleese, who had nominated herself in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, was the only person nominated. Accordingly she was re-elected for a second seven-year term of office without the need to hold a contest. This is the third time a president has been returned unopposed, following President O'Kelly in 1952 and President Hillery in 1983. President McAleese's re-inauguration will take place on 11 November.
The campaign for nominations
Labour
The campaign provisionally started with the announcement in early 2003 that the Irish Labour Party would contest the election, even if the outgoing and popular current president, Mary McAleese, sought a second term. However, speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics programme in November 2003, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte failed when challenged to repeat the statement that the party would contest the election irrespective of McAleese's decision. Michael D. Higgins, of the Labour Party indicated on 15 September 2004 that he was in favour of running for the office. Later that day the Labour Parliamentary Party expressed its opinion that the party should not run a candidate. The final decision was made by the National Executive Committee of the party, which on the 16 September, decided by one vote not to run a candidate.
Dana
Following her defeat in the European Parliament election of June 2004, 1997 candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon indicated that she might also run as an independent presidential candidate on a platform of opposition to the adoption of the proposed European Union constitution. She initially attempted to repeat her 1997 strategy of seeking nominations from four county councils, and approached all the county councils in the country but was rebuffed. Shortly before the close of nominations she turned her attention to attempting to obtain nomination by 20 members of the Oireachtas, but was similarly unsuccessful.
Green Party
On 13 September 2004, Eamon Ryan of the Green Party announced that he intended to suggest that his party nominate him as a candidate. However on 18 September he withdrew his candidacy after failing to secure the necessary number of nominations, the Green Party having only 6 TDs and being unable to secure 14 further nominations from Labour TDs. Also on 13 September former Irish local election candidate and returned Irish emigrant Kevin Lee also announced that he was seeking a nomination, in an interview on Livelive on RTE Radio 1.
Party positions
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil supported its former candidate President McAleese in her bid for a second term. Technically, however, President McAleese nominated herself rather than seek a nomination from Fianna Fáil.
Fine Gael
Fine Gael also supported President McAleese's bid for a second term.
Labour
In early 2003 Labour stated that irrespective of the attitudes of other parties and even in the event of President McAleese seeking a second term, the party would run a candidate. However party leader Pat Rabbitte appeared less committed in a television interview in November 2003, pointing out that all its attentions were focused on the two Irish elections already guaranteed in 2004, the European elections and the local elections to be held on 11 June. Following the significant losses of the ruling Fianna Fáil party in these elections, Labour sources have suggested the presidential election should not be contested, if it were to allow a decisive Fianna Fáil victory so soon after earlier election woes. On 16 September, the party's Parliamentary Party recommended against running a candidate. Possible options were:
The final decision was taken by the party's executive body, the National Executive, on 16 September 2004. In a surprising tight vote, the party's executive decided against running Michael D. by a majority of just one, even though the party leader and parliamentary party had come out strongly against running a candidate.
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin also supported President McAleese's bid for a second term.
Others
The Green Party asked some of the independent TDs and/or senators to support Eamon Ryan as a presidential candidate. Alternatively the Independents could have nominated an independent candidate, although they would have difficulty securing the support of the necessary twenty TDs and/or senators. Possible further candidates included:
- Senator David Norris - who did not receive a Labour nomination;
- Kevin Lee - former emigrant who had a campaign and contacted local councillors;
- Dana, Rosemary Scallon - family rights campaigner, candidate in 1997, and former MEP;
- Mary Robinson (president: 1990-97) - a former president who has not served two terms may nominate themselves for election at any stage.
Local councils
It is also possible for a candidate to be nominated by four local councils. Dana Rosemary Scallon and Derek Nally were nominated in this fashion in 1997, the first time the procedure had been successfully used. The possible candidates listed under the heading "Independents", in particular Lee and Scallon, could have been considered potential candidates for local council nomination.
Past history of electoral contests
The electoral wins in contested polls are as follows
- Fianna Fáil - 1945, 1959, 1966, 1973, 1997
- Fine Gael - none
- independent supported by Labour - 1990
- Others - none
Only one contest took place involving a sitting president. In 1966 President de Valera defeated Fine Gael's Tom O'Higgins by less than 1%.
President McAleese was always the likely but not certain victor in the presidential election. Given the near defeat of a legendary nationalist figure like Eamon de Valera, President McAleese could not be certain of victory. In an electoral contest under the Single Transferable Vote (in effect instant-runoff voting since only one person can win), the greater the number of candidates, the greater the likelihood that an incumbent could be beaten, if all other candidates transfer their preferences to each other. McAleese according to opinion polls would have gone into the election with a popularity level in excess of 80%. However, the current electoral unpopularity of Fianna Fáil might have hindered her electability. Nevertheless, with her popularity so high, it would have been extremely difficult, though not impossible, to beat her.
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