Bertie Ahern has revealed he is considering a run for President, as long as he’s still alive.
Bertie said: “My main job is to stay alive that long, it (the presidency) doesn’t come up for a long, long time, but I’m an ordinary member of the party.” The next presidential election is due in just under three years’ time, in November 2025, with incumbent President, the popular Michael D Higgins, barred from running for a third term.
Mr Ahern, the three-time former Taoiseach, was in jolly form when speaking to reporters on Thursday night for the first time since it was announced on Wednesday evening that he was rejoining the party he resigned from 11 years ago - ahead of him likely being expelled over Adverse Mahon Tribunal findings.
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He was greeted with a standing ovation and rapturous applause at a packed Thomas Prior Hall in the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge Dublin at a party function. Mr Ahern rejoins at a crucial time for Fianna Fail, with the party well behind both Fine Gael and Sinn Féin in most polls.
It is hoped that the champion vote getter may be able to sprinkle some of his old magic that could bring the party back closer to its former glories when it almost commanded overall majorities.
Mr Ahern told reporters at the Carlton Hotel in Ballsbridge: “Arrah, good to see youse (SIC) all. Just to confirm, I joined the party before Christmas and it was following the discussions that went on at the parliamentary party in September where there was widespread support for me joining as a member.
“And that was followed by a huge number of members of the National Executive and councillors contacting me. So I decided then that I’d rejoin.
“And just to confirm, it was intimated to me today that I had taken over my old job (Taoiseach) or something, I’ve joined as an ordinary member of the O’Donovan Rossa Cumann that I was a member of for 41 years.”
He added: “I’ve no intention of going back into my old job.” And when asked directly about the Presidency, he coyly said, with a smile: “My main job is to stay alive that long, it (the presidency) doesn’t come up for a long, long time, but I’m an ordinary member of the party.”
The ex-Taoiseach was speaking in the historic Thomas Prior Hall in the hotel at a Dubil Fianna Fail Cumann function to mark the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
The event was hosted by local TD and party leader hopeful, Jim O’Callaghan.
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