Democracy is best reason for Áras race
MIGGLEDY wants to stay on and he’s finally admitted it. Despite previously promising he would serve only one term, Michael D Higgins has confirmed he wants another seven years.
“I will be offering myself as an Independent candidate, under Article 14.4.4 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, when the ministerial order for a presidential election is made later this year,” he announced yesterday.
Michael D was a Labour candidate in the 2011 Presidential campaign. He will be standing as an Independent in this contest and is supported by Fianna Fáil and Labour – he’s nominating himself. It’s expected he will also be supported by Fine Gael.
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour have decided we don’t need the hassle and cost of a Presidential election this year.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Micheál Martin said he didn’t see a reason why Michael D should be opposed. “I think he has been a strong President,” he said, “he has been engaging, and he has represented the country abroad with distinction.”
He has but there’s still a very good reason why he must be opposed: democracy. Fianna Fáil’s decision to support him is getting in democracy’s way and making it harder for other candidates to run.
Yes, Michael D is very popular with my generation. We see someone who seems – despite his age – to be doing politics differently. He might be a white-haired old man, but last time we saw something in him that was lacking in other politicians.
He’s done a good job at being President from representing us well abroad to the time he bought everyone in Dún Laoghaire an ice-cream.
Never underestimate the appeal of an old-fashioned socialist to a generation who felt their predecessors, who benefited so much from the generosity of the welfare state and booming economy, were breaking the social contract. Look at Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn’s levels of support among millennials.
For Generation Rent, with our precarious jobs and inability to get a mortgage (a formative political experience for most people my age), the appeal of someone who actually believes in intergenerational fairness is unparalleled.
This doesn’t mean we should have Michael D pottering around the Áras in his dotage without having our say first.
We surely have some social and political responsibility to make sure the Irish presidency does not become some form of benevolent dictatorship. A survey last year found 76pc of us wanted Higgins to serve a second term.
That’s grand, but would you get the same answer if there were other attractive options to vote for? I might even end up voting for Michael D again but we need a choice and a vote, because we live a democracy.
One of the signs, after all, Ireland was changing for the better was the election of Mary Robinson, which transformed the Presidency from being a retirement home for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael grandees into something more meaningful.
For 16 years in the 70s and 80s, the presidency had been filled without asking the people. After the in death of Erskine Childers in 1974, he was replaced, by agreement, by Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh. His successor, again by agreement, was Paddy Hillery, who went forward to a second, uncontested term in 1983. The role of President was a near retirement position, with no real political significance.
Enter Mary Robinson. Six months before polling day, she began an intensive campaign, concentrating particularly on marginalised rural and urban groups. The country listened to her message of hope and change and gravitated towards her.
Mary McAleese served a good second term but her lack of opposition in 2004 felt different. She was less of an establishment figure compared to Michael D.
It is hardly a sign of political progress that we now apparently plan to return to the olden days. When it comes to the presidency, Ireland deserves a debate – whether it’s Gerard Craughwell, Daniel O’Donnell or my neighbour’s cat challenging Michael D later this year.
WHATEVER the ultimate outcome of this, we are all entitled to participate in the democratic process and our views must be represented. In any country that is important, and I hope those who are too young to vote are waking up this morning with the belief that one day they too will be able to make a difference.
Michael D Higgins (or Miggledy Higens as he will now forever be known because of the hilarious spelling of a child in a primary school test) is probably one of our all-time favourite presidents. But seven years is a very long time in the Áras and I’m not sure Michael D has anything new to offer us.
Plus there’s something a bit sordid about the way his reluctance to say if he would run or not (and him going back on his word) has played out over the last few months.
We should always have an election – out of respect for the office and for democracy.
Michael D’s appeal doesn’t mean we should have him pottering around the Áras in his dotage without having our say