Education Minister Norma Foley has hinted that Bertie Ahern may run as a Fianna Fáil candidate for President after she said “time will tell” when asked if she’d back his candidacy.
The senior Fianna Fáil frontbench politician welcomed former three-time Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, back into the party after it was revealed he had rejoined on Wednesday.
Mr Ahern resigned from the party he led to three general election victories in 2012 in the wake of adverse findings of the Mahon Tribunal into irregular planning and payments.
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He was facing expulsion from current FF leader, Micheál Martin, if he had not chosen to walk away voluntarily.
Ms Foley praised the past work of Mr Ahern in securing the Good Friday Agreement that saw an end to the bloody Troubles in Northern Ireland 25 years ago.
And she said that he has a contribution to make going forward.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror who asked about the chances of Bertie running for the Park, Ms Foley said: “I think Bertie Ahern has made an enormous contribution to political life, most especially in terms of peace in this country.
“I think it’s rather apt that as we in the coming months look forward to the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that Bertie would have sought to return to Fianna Fáil and I think that’s a positive.
“I think we must be cognitive of, not just the work he did at that time, but of the work he continues to do to sustain peace on this island and I think we’re all cognisant of that.”
The Minister added: “As regards the presidency, I don’t think there’s no vacancy there at present….. And I think time will tell what happens in the future.”
Meanwhile, bookmakers Paddy Power have slashed the odds of Mr Ahern being elected the next President when the election rolls around in 2025.
The keen horse racing fan and gambler is a 12/1 shot, in from 50/1, but still some way off the early favourite, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, at 4/1.
Current incumbent, President Higgins, cannot run again as he is completing the end of a second term, and nobody is allowed to take the office a third time.
Paddy Power, a spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “They say a week is a long time in politics so 11 years must be considered an age.
“Bertie’s success at the ballot box was legendary and while it’s still early days punters are already raiding their shoeboxes to back him for the Áras.”
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