Former taoiseach John Bruton has thrown his weight behind Gay Mitchell’s campaign for the Fine Gael nomination for the presidency.
In a significant boost for Mr Mitchell’s campaign, Mr Bruton has signed his papers in advance of next weekend’s vote for the party nominations.
Mr Bruton, who is party president, has not signed the nomination forms of any of the other candidates, MEP Mairead McGuinness, former European Parliament president Pat Cox and former MEP Avril Doyle.
Mr Bruton, who ruled himself out of the presidential race several weeks ago, praised Mr Mitchell as a clear thinker with strong convictions and principles. But he said all the candidates were very strong and the party was lucky to have such a wide choice.
All four Fine Gael candidates are speaking at a meeting of the national executive in party headquarters today. The 21 voting members of the party's national executive control 10 per cent of the votes in the electoral college which will decide on the nomination, with TDs, Senators and MEPs controlling 70 per cent and county councillors 20 per cent. The candidates spoke to a meeting of Oireachtas members in Leinster House last Thursday.
Mr Mitchell, who was canvassing yesterday in Co Carlow, said he was very pleased to have Mr Bruton’s support. “It’s a great honour and it’s highly significant,” he said.
Fine Gael Minister for Transport and Tourism Leo Varadkar indicated yesterday that he would endorse one of the candidates after he consulted his constituency organisation in Dublin West on Tuesday.
Mr Varadkar said he hadn’t made up his mind who to support. “I’m going to see what the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting is first and make my views known then.”
He said the “key thing” was for Fine Gael to choose “the person who is most likely to get the votes of the Irish people”.
The venue for the Fine Gael selection convention next weekend has been switched from the Red Cow Hotel to the Regency Airport Hotel on Dublin’s northside. Party sources said a bigger venue was needed “with no pillars”.
Among the potential independent candidates, Dragon's Den panellist Sean Gallagher has expressions of support from four county councils, Special Olympic executive Mary Davis has been backed by one council and Senator David Norris also has the support of one council. Independent candidates require the backing of four councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas to be able to run for President.
Under the Constitution, the election for President must take place in the 60-day period before the term of office of the current President, Mary McAleese, expires on November 10th.