Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said he is running for president as he wants to provide an opportunity for citizens to vote for someone who wants to represent the whole of Ireland.
In an exclusive interview, McGuinness told the Irish Voice in New York that he wants to “represent all of Ireland, north, south, east and west, everybody on the island no matter what their political persuasion is, no matter what their political conviction is”.
“I am someone who has struggled myself all my life and I think the people of Ireland will respond to someone, I hope, they think can meet their expectations.
“Against all the odds I was able to build a relationship with Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson.
“I think people have been struck by that and will see me as someone who can represent them on the world stage as best I can.
“I am going forward on a very clear, broad platform as someone who has been very much involved in one of the most major political transformations that Ireland has seen in the course of the last ten or fifteen years,” he added.
Speaking about whether he thought Ireland was ready for a Sinn Fein president he said it was it up to the public to decide.
“A lot of people will be thinking about the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising and there may people who think it would be nice to have a Sinn Fein president, but that’s really a matter for the people,” he said.
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McGuinness, who is returning to Ireland on Saturday morning, will seek the approval of the party’s Ard Chomhairle this Sunday and is expected to be officially announced as the Sinn Fein candidate thereafter.
Speaking to the Irish Voice in the lobby of Fitzpatrick’s Hotel in Manhattan on Friday evening, McGuinness said his bid for the Aras has “certainly made the presidential race far more interesting”.
In his first interview as the Sinn Fein presidential candidate, he revealed he had only made the final decision on Thursday night after he spoke with Gerry Adams.
“In a recent number of days it has been clear that a lot of people within the party thought that this was something that I should go for.
“I have thought about it whilst I have been in the United States and only really made the decision last night in the aftermath of a phone call with Gerry Adams,” he told the Irish Voice.
He said he is confident his work with the Northern Assembly will not be derailed by a presidential bid.
“In my absence the work that I have been engaged in will be very carefully managed by other very dependable people within the party, who I have absolute trust and faith in,” he told the Irish Voice.
“I have no concerns whatsoever about the stability of the institution,” he added.
The Deputy First Minister was in the U.S. with First Minister Peter Robinson to open the New York branch of the Northern Irish financial services firm First Derivatives.
McGuinness, who said he feels “honored” to have been asked to run, said he will be satisfied whether he is elected or not.
“It’s matter for the people, I throw myself at their mercy,” he concluded.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Towngate | Sep 18, 2011, 01:11 PM EDT
pilib04: Martin can begin his Diplomatic Turncoating by learning her name. A tiny detail, but a start!
JohnJoe4444 | Sep 18, 2011, 01:07 PM EDT
Mr McGuinness will not be representing me! Anybody who has a black past like his, and justified it by saying it was for me and the likes of me, cannot be trusted. Reading some of the comments reinforces my view that only residents of Ireland should be entitled to vote. People who lookt at the situation through green tinted glasses can't be trusted to vote responsibly. I was robbed at gunpoint by some of those "patriots". It's not half as glamorous when you are looking down a gun held by psycho thugs.
seanomelbourne | Sep 17, 2011, 07:38 PM EDT
Looking at the quality of the candidates he's a shoe in
oldboreen | Sep 17, 2011, 06:34 PM EDT
I see sirpeter is on yet another one of his flights of fancy! Does he really think that a majority of people in the Republic will vote a Sinn Fein politician to the Aras? I don't think so! I suspect he doesn't either.
pilib04 | Sep 17, 2011, 04:52 PM EDT
Martin has already announced in the Belfast Telegraph, that as Uachtarn he will be glad to host Elizabeth Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Good for him. Up Sinn Fein.
pilib04 | Sep 17, 2011, 04:48 PM EDT
Martin McGuinness has it right. If McGuinness can govern Northern Ireland with Peter Robinson and Ian Paisley, he will be able to serve as Uachtaran na hEireann. McGuinness is well known throughout the whole of Ireland and also among the Diaspora. Sinn Fein is on the move.
bunkerisland | Sep 17, 2011, 03:13 PM EDT
From the Bogside to the Presidency! It was a long road between. Ain't it wonderful.
Towngate | Sep 17, 2011, 02:54 PM EDT
Yes,quite right JBRAFTREE,they are well minded, I'm sure, as he was when I introduced myself at the BBC. Martin had eight jumpy men minding him at that time. I still stand my my hunch though ~ as somebody once said: "They have to be lucky all the time - we only have to be lucky once." With him in the Aras the 'they' and 'we' are reversed. Martin McGuinness - and all that people percieve him to be; cowering in the old British Headquarters? I just can't see it 'being allowed' by those who have had more than enough to stomach! Let's hope for the best, anyway. Thanks for your response,JF.
peterson | Sep 17, 2011, 02:09 PM EDT
Now, that is really good news ! Good Luck Martin !!
JBRAFTREE | Sep 17, 2011, 01:29 PM EDT
Towngate, One step at a time. I met Martin and Gerry Adams ath the Galway Bay Hotel in '02 at a fundraiser. They were way safe. They had about 4 big guys with them with long coats on... I think he'd be good as President. I wish I could vote for him.
greensod | Sep 17, 2011, 12:29 PM EDT
What a wonderful choice.Finally a real son of Ireland being put forward.A man of honor who has passed all of the tests.Win or loose,this is a huge step in the right direction for Ireland.Eighter way they both win. Congratulations,brilliant decision.Best of luck.
Padraig8 | Sep 17, 2011, 11:55 AM EDT
You GO Martin now is the time i wish irish citizens living in the US and elsewhere could vote in the Irish Election i would cast an absentee ballott for Martin McGuiness Good Man that he is.
Springfield9 | Sep 17, 2011, 11:27 AM EDT
After visiting Belfast, for a period, I wouldn't let their rainwater run into the Republic - much less their (unique) Politicians.
cuddlybuddly | Sep 17, 2011, 10:21 AM EDT
Take it away Martin! Would love to see a Sinn Fein President of the People, and I always associate Sinn Fein with the ability to bring the Dark side out onto the table and to negotiate it- not hide it away...Well Done Sinn Fein!
Towngate | Sep 17, 2011, 08:11 AM EDT
This is getting heavy, now! If he claims he will repreent the whole of Ireland does he mean to allow Northern Ireland to vote in the election and by holding his position in the British Northern Ireland government at Stormont; as well as President of the Republic. If he thinks being President of the Republic makes him President of (Part of)the United Kingdom as well ~~~ he better think again! Irish political, historical and social waters are muddy enough without further confusion. Feelings run deep and long and memories only sharpen with time in Ireland. If Martin McGuinness sets foot inside the (former) British Vice-Regal Lodge as President, it could well be a step too far for some of the'old guard' ( from all quarters) and he will hear chilling echoes of Michael Collins' famous utterance: 'Today I have signed my death warrant'.
Rebelforce | Sep 16, 2011, 09:12 PM EDT
How long has it been since the people of independent Ireland had the opportunity to vote for a man who actually fought and struggled for Irish Freedom against British rule? What a terrific opportunity for those voters of Ireland who consider themselves 'Irish Nationalists' to finally have somebody to vote for.
sirpeter | Sep 16, 2011, 08:57 PM EDT
That's the job Martin.If you can get on with Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson.You could bring peace to the middle east.FACT!!