2025 Presidential election: How does it work? Who could run?

James Cox

After the 2024 general election, Irish people will go to the polls again in 2025 to elect the next president.

So when is the election, and who could run to succeed President Michael D Higgins?

Presidential elections

The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann) is Ireland’s Head of State. Every seven years the public elect a new President. The President can serve two terms in total.

Some of the President’s constitutional roles include:

When will the next presidential election take place?

Under Article 12(3) of the Constitution, the presidential election must take place by the date on which the current President’s term of office expires. This election may not take place more than 60 days before the end of the current term. The election must also take place within 60 days of resignation, death or removal of the current president.

Mr Higgins, the current President was inaugurated for his second term on the November 11th, 2018. This means that the next presidential election is scheduled to take place on or up to 60 days before November 11th, 2025.

The newly elected President will take up office on the day following the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing President, this will be November 12th, 2025.

Who can vote?

To vote in a presidential election, you must be:

Who can become President?

To be eligible for election as President, you must be:

How do candidates get nominated?

There are three different methods for a candidate to get nominated:

Who could run?

It's likely to be a number of months still before candidates officially declare their interest.

Political parties often nominate candidates, while those who meet the criteria to run can also do so as Independent candidates.

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been heavily linked with a presidential bid.

Mr Ahern quit Fianna Fáil in the wake of the findings of the Mahon tribunal, but was re-admitted to the party in 2023.

However, it remains to be seen whether Fianna Fáil would nominate him given the potential controversy and backlash the party could receive.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin had been another name consistenly linked with a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. However, after Fianna Fáil coming in with 48 seats following the general election, Mr Martin is all but certain to be the next Taoiseach.

Gerry Adams has been linked with a possible run for Sinn Féin. However, like Mr Ahern and Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin may feel it would bring unnecessary scrutiny onto the party.

After Sinn Féin's election performance guaranteed another five years in opposition, some political pundits had speculated leader Mary Lou McDonald may have targeted a bid for the presidency.

However, Ms McDonald has indicated she is eager to continue leading the party, even in Opposition.

TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh is another candidate for the Sinn Féin nomination. Mr Ó Snodaigh was a candidate as the Dáil voted for Ceann Comhairle before Christmas, but ultimately lost out to Verona Murphy.

A recent poll from the Irish Daily Mail, conducted with Amárach Research, found Social Democrats co-founder Róisín Shortall would be a popular choice for president.

Ms Shortall (32 per cent) and Fine Gael veteran Frances Fitzgerald (29 per cent) were the two leaders from the poll. Ms Fitzgerald has also been heavily linked with a presidential run.

Mr Ahern (21 per cent) and Mr Adams (18 per cent) also featured in the opinion poll.

MEP Regina Doherty is another candidate who could secure a Fine Gael nomination.

Other 'celebrity candidates' will probably emerge ahead of the election. Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan is one name who has often been linked with a run.