2025 Irish presidential election explained

Election Name:	2025 Irish presidential election
Country:	Ireland
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	yes
Previous Election:	2018 Irish presidential election
Previous Year:	2018
Election Date:	By 27 October 2025
Next Election:	2032 Irish presidential election
Next Year:	2032
President
Before Election:	Michael D. Higgins
Before Party:	Independent politician (Ireland)
After Election:	Michael D. Higgins
After Party:	Independent politician (Ireland)

The 2025 Irish presidential election must take place by Monday, 27 October 2025. Michael D. Higgins, the incumbent president, is ineligible to seek a third term. He was elected in 2011 with the support of the Labour Party, and in 2018 as an independent.^[1]

Procedure

See main article: Irish presidential election. To stand for election as president, candidates must:

• be a citizen of Ireland
• be at least 35 years of age
• be nominated by:
  • at least twenty of the 218 serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas (parliament), or
  • at least four of the 31 county or city councils, or
  • themselves, in the case of a former or retiring president who has served one term.

If a member of the Oireachtas or a County or City council nominate more than one candidate, only the first nomination paper received from them will be deemed valid. Presidential elections are conducted in line with Article 12 of the Constitution^[2] and under the Presidential Elections Act 1993, as amended.^[3] The President of Ireland is elected through Instant-runoff voting.^[4] All Irish citizens entered on the current electoral register are eligible to vote.^[2] Under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011, there is a spending limit by each candidate of €750,000. Candidates who are elected or who reach 12.5% of the vote on their elimination are entitled to a reimbursement of expenses up to €200,000.^[5]

Potential candidates

Fine Gael

• Mairead McGuinness, former European Commissioner (2020–2024)^[6]

Fianna Fáil

• Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach (1997–2008)^[7]
• Micheál Martin, Tánaiste (2022–present)^[6]

Independent

• Conor McGregor, professional mixed martial artist and boxer, formally declared interest on 5 September 2024^{[8] [9]}

Declined candidates

Fine Gael

• Enda Kenny, former Taoiseach (2011–2017)^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. Presidential Election 2018. 24 September 2018. 28 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200713/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-24-September-2018-1.pdf. 28 September 2018. dead. dmy-all.
2. Article 12 of the Constitution of Ireland. Web site: Constitution of Ireland. October 2015. Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. 16 September 2017. 3 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503055502/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html. live.
3. Web site: Presidential Elections Act 1993. Irish Presidential Election. Presidential Returning Officer. 21 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180921153354/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/1993-Presidential-Elections-Act-1993-Consolidated-January-2016.pdf. 21 September 2018. dead. dmy-all.
4. News: Presidential election: Everything you need to know before voting . The Irish Times . 28 October 2018 . 26 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181026080400/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/presidential-election-everything-you-need-to-know-before-voting-1.3675937 . live .
5. Web site: Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011. 25 July 2011. Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. 22 September 2018. 22 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180922174925/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2011/act/14/enacted/en/print.html. live.
6. Web site: Hennessy . Mark . Enda Kenny rules out Áras an Uachtaráin run in 2025 . The Irish Times . 2024-08-30 . 2024-09-07.
7. News: ‘If I run, I’m running to win’ – Bertie Ahern says he hasn’t ruled out presidential bid. Irish Independent. 16 July 2024. 6 November 2024.
8. Web site: Mahjouri . Shakiel . UFC star Conor McGregor teases 2025 presidential run in Ireland: 'I am the only logical choice' . CBSSports.com . 2024-09-06 . 2024-09-07.
9. News: 'I'm the logical choice' - Conor McGregor talks of dissolving Dáil in controversial presidential bid post. Limerick Leader. 6 September 2024. 6 November 2024.