FORMER EUROVISION WINNER and MEP, Dana Rosemary Scallon, is considering seeking the backing of 20 TDs and Senators in a late bid to enter this year’s Presidential election, it has been reported.
Highland Radio, the local radio station in Donegal where Scallon has links, cited sources close to the former MEP who said Scallon was now reconsidering her earlier decision not to contest this year’s election.
Scallon has previously ruled out running in this year’s election, but Highland Radio said the withdrawal of frontrunner David Norris meant it would now be possible for Scallon to win nominations from 20 Oireachtas members and still get her name included in the ballot papers.
Scallon became the first candidate in history to successfully win nomination from four local authorities when she contested the 1997 election as an independent candidate.
She finished third in that election behind the eventual winner Mary McAleese, who ran as a Fianna Fáil candidate, and Fine Gael’s nominee Mary Banotti. She picked up over 175,000 first preference votes in that election, winning the support of 13.8 per cent of the electorate.
Scallon also expressed interest in running in 2004 but was unable to secure a nomination, leaving McAleese to be returned automatically as the sole candidate.
She was elected an MEP for the Connaught-Ulster constituency in 1999, but failed to retain her seat in 2004. She also ran in the 2002 general election in the constituency of Galway West, but polled poorly and finished 11th in terms of first preference votes.
Earlier this year Scallon campaigned with the United For Life group which asked candidates to “defend human life at all stages”.
Scallon had not returned contact to TheJournal.ie at the time of publication.
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