Stefanie Preissner
Amid the race for the White House, I am getting excited about our own presidential election and how the public will vote this time
As the column inches on the US presidential election grow, I find myself getting increasingly excited for our own presidential race next year. When there’s no incumbent in the running, the contest for the Áras is like the Olympics for me — a rare event that’s deliciously unpredictable, short enough to avoid monotony, and something I feel unusually expert at judging from the comfort of my sofa. I know there’ll be a general election first, but there’s always something much more immediate and cut-throat about the presidential race — it’s more like reality TV somehow, or maybe that’s just because of the candidates.
But what do we really want in a president? Michael D Higgins has held the office for 13 years now, meaning that many voters have come of age during his tenure and have likely never paused to consider what they truly want in a leader. When I was growing up, the president was always female. I just assumed that it was the role of a woman to be the figurehead of our country. Do people who have grown up in the Higgins era assume that the role is suited to a man of a specific vintage who wears his opinions on his sleeve and is an impressive orator?
With the rise of ‘the influencer’ and the ubiquity of social media, this election cycle could usher in a whole new world of possibilities. There are
Irish people with hundreds of thousands of online followers. As it currently stands, their loyal following earns them a living by buying the products they advertise and recommend. But what if they mobilised their 500,000 followers to register and vote for them? The political anoraks would roll their eyes, but you can’t argue that politics is turning more and more toward populism. So who’s to say our next president won’t be someone who keeps their entire campaign online and never hangs a poster?
Would that be a terrible thing? What do voters truly want in a leader? Or, taking it back another step, who are the voters? In the past, I believe, more people wanted a candidate with a “proven record” than one with “new ideas”. If you didn’t have a law background or know the Constitution inside out, you were deemed inept. But I’m not sure that’s going to be the case this time around. You’re not allowed to spend more than €750,000 per candidate on a campaign. Thirteen years ago, that was a criterion that weeded out anyone who wasn’t fully serious, but now, certain online types could have that raised from a GoFundMe in a week.
Also, if a candidate is elected, or gets more than 25pc of the quota in the election, they can be reimbursed up to €200,000 from the State, which drastically reduces the burden.
I think we all want a president we can be proud of. We’ve all seen American tourists, colleagues, or friends apologising for their president out of embarrassment at some point in the last 20 years. You’re never going to please everyone as an elected representative, but at least don’t be someone to be ashamed of.
Personally, I would like a vibrant and charismatic president who is accessible, relatable, and in touch with the people of Ireland. Higgins is never more relatable or adorable than when he is spotted with his beloved dogs — it makes me wonder what a president with a young family would do for the country. A somewhat imperfect comparison might be made to Kate and William Windsor, who, by being seen with their children, advocating for mental health, and generally embracing a ‘normal’ lifestyle, have modernised the royal family. They’ve made it feel more accessible, down-to-earth and relevant.
In a similar vein, I would love to see our next president be someone who is visible and engaged in everyday life — someone who meets ordinary people, listens to them, and is truly for the people because they are of the people.
Of course, speculation has already started about who each party will put forward as their candidate. Unlike in the USA, the Irish electorate seem to be less loyal to political parties and more drawn to personalities when it comes to the president, so it’s all up for grabs still. Maybe it’ll be the old reliable names you could probably guess who will run, or maybe it’ll be someone quite surprising.
But something new is coming. How exciting.