Maria Steen Faces Race Against Time for Presidential Nomination

URGENT UPDATE: Independent presidential hopeful Maria Steen is in a critical race against time to secure her spot on the ballot as the 12 PM submission deadline looms. She must confirm two additional backers to reach the necessary 20 nomination signatures before the clock runs out.

Steen’s fate could be determined as early as 9 AM today when another politician is expected to announce their candidacy. The stakes are high, and every minute counts for Steen, a conservative campaigner and barrister.

In a statement to RTÉ News last night, Steen expressed her hope for support from politicians willing to break party lines. Sources close to Steen suggest that backing from members of the Government parties remains a possibility, despite warnings from Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

“Fianna Fáil has nominated its candidate,” Martin stated firmly, emphasizing that there would be “no leeway” for members to support another candidate like Steen. He cautioned that party rules impose consequences for those who defy the party whip.

Further complicating the political landscape, independent candidate Catherine Connolly has refrained from urging other TDs and senators to support Steen. She stated, “The question of who Oireachtas members should nominate is something for them to decide, and I don’t feel it would be appropriate for me to seek to influence them in this regard.”

Connolly formally submitted her nomination papers on Tuesday amid controversy over her comments regarding Hamas, which she described as “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people.” Although she condemned Hamas’s actions, her remarks sparked significant debate within political circles.

Meanwhile, Martin defended his party’s candidate, Jim Gavin, who suggested that Hamas could have a role in post-war Gaza, asserting it was “not the job of a presidential candidate to articulate everything a government minister says.”

As the political drama unfolds, Tánaiste Simon Harris reiterated the Government’s stance, declaring Hamas a “despicable, illegal terrorist organisation.” He stated, “It offers the people of Palestine no future,” making the Government’s position unmistakably clear.

Harris also remarked on the intensifying pace of the campaign, noting, “This campaign is coming in fast now, and we’re getting down to the last few weeks.” He confirmed that posters will begin to appear nationwide starting tomorrow, further escalating public interest in the election.

With the nomination deadline fast approaching, the political landscape is shifting rapidly, and every decision made in the coming hours could significantly impact Steen’s chances of making it onto the presidential ballot. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.