"Áras watch: Michael McDowell forgets his lectures on democracy in refusing to sign Maria Steen's presidential papers"
"The fingers of blame are being pointed at the main political parties for blocking Independent candidates. But less attention has been paid to the role of Independent senators such as the former justice minister and PD leader, who had no loyalties to candidates already in the race, writes Fionnán Sheahan."
Michael McDowell declined to sign Maria Steen's presidential nomination papers, a decision presented as inconsistent with his previous defence of democratic norms. Main political parties are being blamed for obstructing Independent candidates from gaining traction in the presidential race. Independent senators, including a former justice minister and the PD leader, played a decisive role by withholding support and did not have pre-existing loyalties to candidates already in the race. The influence of these Independent senators on candidate access and outcome has received comparatively little attention compared with the focus on party machinery.
Read at Irish Independent
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