IRISH ‘DRAGON-SLAYER’ POISED TO WIN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AGAIN
▶ Questions about dog-grooming bills have not altered Michael Higgins’s odds to stay in office
In less than a fortnight, Irish voters will be asked to choose between three reality-TV judges, a former charity worker, a nationalist politician and a poet to serve as their head of state for the next seven years.
While the high number of nominees from the show Dragons’ Den might indicate that Ireland could be about to elect its own Donald Trump as president, the favourite is incumbent Michael D Higgins.
Backed by the three major parties, Mr Higgins – or “Michael D”, as he is affectionately known – seems highly likely to return to the Aras, the president’s official residence, at the end of this month.
The role of president in Ireland is largely ceremonial.
A former poet, academic, trade unionist and minister for culture, Mr Higgins has a significant lead on his opponents with the most recent poll placing him at 70 per cent.
His closest challenger is former “Dragon” Sean Gallagher on 14 per cent, followed by mental health activist Joan Freeman on 6 per cent and Sinn Fein candidate Liadh Ni Riada on 5 per cent.
The other former dragons, Gavin Duffy and Peter Casey, polled at only 4 per cent and 1 per cent.
At the first full debate with all the candidates on Saturday, two of the five other nominees chose to focus their energies on the president, his spending, his age and even his two beloved Bernese mountain dogs, Sioda and Brod.
Derry-born entrepreneur Mr Casey launched most of his questions at Mr Higgins, asking why he needed a €250,000 (Dh1.06 million) salary, something the former Dragon said he would forgo if elected.
“Your rent is paid. Your driver’s paid. Your food is paid for. Your nice suits are paid for,” he said. “What do you spend it on? Even your dog-grooming bills are paid for.”
Mr Casey also questioned what he said were a dwindling number of public engagements being carried out by the president.
“It’s not his fault he’s 77,” he said. Mr Casey himself woke up at 5.30am every day to exercise, he said.
Ms Ni Riada described Mr Higgins’s spending as exorbitant and chastised the president for using a private jet to travel to nearby Belfast.
Although Mr Higgins’s response to Mr Casey and Ms Ni Riada failed to explain what some might see as extravagant expenditure – his retort to an accusation about the helicopter was that he had used it only 14 times – this seems unlikely to dent his huge margin.
After the debate, the Twittersphere was more concerned that the two dogs, beloved by the nation and often used for photo opportunities, had been brought into the argument.
The message of economic and social equality carried by Mr Higgins, known as a staunch liberal and a member of Ireland’s Labour Party for more than 40 years, resonates with a country that has changed drastically in a decade.
Ireland’s experience in the previous economic crash – a period of rapid growth followed by sharp recession that led to high unemployment – bred mistrust in big business’s ability to solve the growing hardship facd by many.
Although the Celtic Tiger is beginning to roar again, the uncertainty of what effect Brexit will have on the Irish economy is dampening any hopes of a financial resurgence to pre2008 levels.
Mr Higgins, a feminist and equal-rights supporter, fits well with the growing number of socially conscious voters.
Two constitutional referendums in three years brought about marriage and abortion reform, and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church has waned.
Mr Higgins’s main left-leaning rival, Ms Freeman, was revealed to have voted against lifting Ireland’s abortion ban in May.
In 2011, Mr Higgins’s ascendance to the presidency was not so assured.
Mr Gallagher, who also ran, was the front runner until only days before the vote when his campaign was derailed during a live television debate by questions about a donation he received.
This time round, Mr Higgins has seven years of well-received presidential service to see him through.
Barring any further damning revelations about canine grooming costs, it seems Michael D is likely to slay the dragon once again.