Fact-check: Unlikely that Conor McGregor can run for Irish presidency

euronews (in English)

Fact-check: Unlikely that Conor McGregor can run for Irish presidency  He may be in favour with the Trump administration, but Conor McGregor's chances of making the ballot paper in Ireland's presidential poll are close to zero, experts tell Euroverify.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/03/27/fact-check-unlikely-conor-mcgregor-can-run-for-irish-presidency  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

Transcript

00:00Can Conor McGregor really run for the Irish presidency?

00:08This is controversial martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, a figurehead for Ireland's

00:14far right who last year was found liable for brutally raping and battering a woman.

00:21Last month he was given a stage at the White House.

00:32The Irish Taoiseach Michael Martin later criticised those comments saying McGregor does not represent

00:38the Irish people.

00:39Now McGregor says he is running to be Ireland's president, a largely ceremonial role currently

00:46held by Michael D Higgins.

00:49But can he even run?

00:51In Ireland, a presidential candidate has to either be nominated by at least 20 members

00:56of the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament, or by four local authorities.

01:01Experts say it's unlikely McGregor can secure a nomination via either route.

01:15The Irish president is the head of state but has limited powers and must mainly act

01:20on the advice of the government.

01:22The president cannot even leave the country without the government's permission.

01:25Yet McGregor claims he would, as president, block the EU's migration pact, legislation

01:31aimed at making EU countries distribute the burden of processing asylum claims.

01:36He also says he would put the pact up to a referendum.

01:40But the Irish president does not have veto power over legislation and cannot unilaterally

01:45call a referendum without the support of parliament.

01:49McGregor's prospects of running for office and pursuing his political goals look slim

01:53at best.

Category

Transcript

Recommended