Maria Steen criticises 'oppressive political consensus' as presidential bid fails

James Cox

The presidential election will be a three-horse race as Maria Steen has fallen just two nominations short to make the ballot.

Ms Steen has failed in her effort to get on the ballot paper, securing 18 of the 20 signatures she needed from members of the Oireachtas by today's midday deadline.

This morning Senator Aubrey McCarthy confirmed he would nominate Ms Steen, bringing her tally to 18.

This led to intensive lobbying from her team in an effort to get two more nominations before the 12pm deadline.

Ms Steen had an appointment at the Custom House at 11am to submit her nomination papers

It means the race for the Áras will be between Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael), Independent Catherine Connolly and Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin.

Speaking after her campaign fell short, Ms Steen said she feels voters will have a lack of choice in the upcoming election.

She said: “I’m also grateful to the 18 parliamentarians, true democrats all, who gave me their signatures, some of whom because they wanted to support me and vote for me in the election, and some of whom simply because they believed in democracy and that the verdict on my candidacy should be rendered not by an elite clique but by the people.”

Ms Steen also criticised the "oppressive political consensus".

“Since announcing my intention to seek a nomination to run in the presidential election, I have been humbled by the outpouring of support for my campaign.

“While I’m honoured to have received 90 per cent of the signatures required from members of the Oireachtas, I regret to say that it’s not enough and that time has now run out.

"I entered this race with a hope of giving voters a real choice.

“The response from the public in recent days confirms the hunger that there is for an alternative candidate.

“Sadly that hunger will now go unsatisfied. Rarely has the political consensus seemed more oppressive or detached from the wishes and desires of the public.”