Members of at least six county and city councils will next week nominate Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon to contest the presidency. Lorna Siggins and Joe Humphreys report.
But, according to councillors in each local authority, her chances of a successful nomination are slim.
An Independent Galway county councillor yesterday became the latest local politician to support Ms Scallon's nomination bid. Cllr Seosamh Ó Cuaig, a member of the 16-strong technical coalition on Galway County Council, said it was "simply a question of democracy".
His intention to nominate Ms Scallon did not indicate that he supported the candidate. But he believed she did have the right to stand for the office if she received the required nominations.
"It may well suit the main political parties not to have an election to the office of the presidency, but it does not suit the interests of the Irish people," Mr Ó Cuaig, who is based in Connemara, said yesterday.
"While I am supporting the right of Dana to stand for President, I would gladly have supported the candidature of Labour Party TD Mr Michael D. Higgins too."
Ms Scallon's nomination has also been tabled at meetings next week of Galway City Council, and county councils in Kildare, Westmeath, Laois and Donegal.
Only a small fraction of councillors in each local authority, however, have come out in favour of the motions.
To stand against President McAleese, Ms Scallon - a presidential candidate in 1997 - requires the support of 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities.
Ms Vincent Salafia, a heritage campaigner who is also seeking a presidential nomination, said yesterday he was "still optimistic" about getting the support of 20 TDs and senators.
"I have two political parties who said they would consider supporting my nomination," he claimed, although he declined to identify which parties he was referring to. Mr Salafia said he was also considering a constitutional challenge to the decision of the main political parties to "block an election".
Cllr Ó Cuaig is one of four Independents in Galway County Council's technical coalition, which also includes 10 Fine Gael councillors, one Labour and one Sinn Féin member.