SINN FÉIN PRESIDENT Gerry Adams has ruled himself out of running for the Irish presidency.
The republican leader, who yesterday announced he will step down as leader of Sinn Féín next year, ruled out putting himself up for any election – be they for the Dáíl, Stormont or for Uachtarán na hÉireann.
Asked on RTÉ’s This Week if he would follow in the footsteps of his late colleague Martin McGuinness and run for the Áras, Adams responded with an unequivocal “no”.
Adams also spoke of his disdain for how the Dáíl works. The TD, who topped the poll in the Louth constituency in the last election, said that the Irish parliament “has all of the worst aspects of the old British system”.
He added: “I won’t miss it at all at all. I think it’s a small cosy little club. I can tell ya, it would fry your head to listen to the nonsense that is talked.”
In his address to the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis last night, Adams said that the time had come for him to pass the baton to the new generation of Sinn Féin politicians.
He also confirmed that he will not stand in the next Dáíl election.
He said: “I’m very proud to have served as Uachtarán. Last year, myself and Martin said there was a plan for change. I thought I needed to tell you….I have been privileged to be part of an amazing leadership.”
“I have complete confidence in the leaders we elected this weekend and in the next generation of leaders,” he said.
“One of our greatest achievements has been to build a peace process. I will not be standing for the Dáil neither will Martin Ferris. This is also my last Ard Fheis. I’ll be asking the new Ard Comhairle to agree a date in 2018 to elect our next Uachtarán.”
Comments have been disabled due to the high number of flagged comments.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say