Maria Steen’s Presidential Bid Faces Urgent Deadline for Support

UPDATE: Conservative campaigner Maria Steen is racing against the clock to secure her place on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election, with a crucial deadline set for Wednesday at noon. Despite facing challenges from key Independent politicians who have declined to support her, Steen remains “very hopeful” about her chances.

In a dramatic turn of events, Steen received a significant boost on Tuesday when four Independent Ireland TDs, along with Marian Harkin and Danny Healy-Rae, pledged their support, bringing her total to 17 nominations. However, she still needs an urgent intervention from three more TDs or senators to reach the necessary threshold of 20 nominations from Oireachtas members.

Steen expressed her urgency during an interview with RTÉ’s Six One news, stating, “Time is running out” as she navigates a landscape of political endorsements. While some Senators, including Gerard Craughwell and Michael McDowell, have withheld their support, she remains optimistic about winning them over. “I’m happy to take a nomination from anybody who’s willing to give it to me,” she said.

Despite her supporters’ active lobbying efforts on social media, more endorsements have not materialized. Senators Aubrey McCarthy and Victor Boyhan publicly declined to back Steen, further complicating her path. An appeal from Independent Ireland urged other Independents to consider supporting Steen, emphasizing the importance of facilitating democracy in the electoral process.

Steen’s candidacy is not without controversy. She was recently asked to clarify her relationship with Kieran Kelly, a right-wing environmentalist who made unverified claims regarding her communications about another candidate, Jim Gavin. Steen responded, stating, “I had a call with Kieran Kelly. He mentioned nothing about Jim Gavin or any other candidate to me,” reinforcing her focus on securing nominations.

As the deadline approaches, the pressure mounts for Steen. Independent Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has agreed to sign her nomination papers, but significant figures in the government, including Seán Canney, Noel Grealish, and Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, have yet to commit.

The next 24 hours are critical for Steen as she seeks to rally the necessary support to enter the presidential race and potentially succeed Michael D Higgins. Political observers will be watching closely as developments unfold leading up to the deadline.

Steen remains hopeful, stating, “I think I’d be very grateful for [McDowell’s] support,” as she continues her outreach to both Independent senators and party members willing to break ranks.

This is a developing story, and updates will follow as the situation evolves.