Former MMA champion Conor McGregor announced on Monday that he is not going to be a candidate in the next Irish presidential election, set for October 24.
Earlier this month, McGregor said he would run for the presidency, saying that “the time for real change is now,” and pledging not to “sign any bill in law until it goes back to the people first.”
The athlete is a popular advocate against immigration in his country and far right figures like US President or tech entrepreneur have lately declared support for him.
Why is McGregor dropping his presidential bid?
McGregor said his intention to run had been “sincere and genuine,” but that he would not pursue the candidacy for now.
“Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race,” he wrote on X.
In , a candidate must be nominated by 20 members of the Irish parliament or by four local authorities in order to run.
In his online post, the athlete also claimed that the political rules in Ireland prevent a “true democratic presidential election” and the constitution is “fixed to ensure only Establishment approved candidates may be selected on the ballot.” He added there is a “democratic deficit against the will of the Irish people.”
Last month, Irish Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien had said McGregor was free to challenge the process to get on the presidential ballot paper, but that the Irish constitution was “clear” and the fighter was not fit to be president.
McGregor only officially declared his intention to run on September 4, posting a video on X.
McGregor has been haunted by both during and after his MMA career. He recently lost an appeal against N. Hand, who claims McGregor had raped her in 2018.
Hand won the civil court case and was awarded $293,400 (almost €250,000) in .
Who can and will run?
Three candidates are confirmed to be running for the election: Jim Gavin (from the Fianna Fail), Catherine Connolly (left-wing independent) and Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael).
The leftist-nationalist party Sinn Fein will decide later this month whether to pick its own candidate or to support Connolly. Sinn Fein is the largest opposition party in Ireland and Connolly has already secured the support of other leftist parties.
Several independent candidates are still seeking endorsements ahead of the September 24 deadline.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
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