Demonstrating, yet again, how the EU/UK/West views democracy. You have the right to vote but only from whom we select. In other words voting is pointless.

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Not a signal then? I'm not invested in Irish politics or particularly like this guy but surely, if he won it is a signal that the good people of Ireland have had enough?

Definitely a signal but the system is parliamentary democracy. It's the Prime Minister and their cabinet that call the shots.

That would be fair to say.

The question at the moment is whether or not he can even get on the ballot.

The bar for getting on the ballot is ridiculously high in Ireland.

The endorsemet of 20 sitting members of the Dáil (parliament)

Or the endorsement of 4 local councils

It's incredibley unlikely that he will get on the ballot.

The role of the Irish President is basically to shake hands and as a sort of ambassador. It's almost entirely ceremonial. They sign things into law but cannot actually vetoe legislation put forward by the governent.

The President's powers include:

Appointment of the Taoiseach, members of the Government, judges and other officials;

Summoning and dissolving the Dáil (parliament), and convening the Oireachtas (wider government)

Signing legislation into law and/or referring Bills to the Supreme Court; (again, no vetoe powers)

Representing the people of Ireland;

Acting as Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces.

In the extremely unlikely scenario of McGregor getting elected, the best he can hope for is to use the office as a giant soap-box

Can he refuse to assign the pm (I can't spell the T word, sorry)?

From my own personal copy of the constitution :

So he has to do it. Pity

I knew tagging you would result in a knowledge dump 💪