McGuinness promises to be the 'people's president'

The Sinn Fein executive has formally nominated Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness as its presidential candidate.

Addressing the Ard Chomhairle after his nomination and after he had secured the support of four independent members of the Dail he needed to make his candidacy viable, Mr McGuiness promised to be "a people's president".

He said he had “a strong record as a peacemaker" and claimed that people saw him "as someone who works for peace”.

He pointed out that he had worked with Ian Paisley and with Peter Robinson. "I can work with anyone. Times have changed in the North."

He said he had "every confidence that the peace process will be strengthened by my participation in the presidential election" and  said his campaign would be "open to all. I will be a people's president. A president for a new republic in a new time."

Referring to the various centenaries which are approaching - including those of the unionist community - Mr McGuinness said they would all have to be dealt with "sensitively".

He said he was "proud to have served in government alongside unionists" and claimed to have "a very deep bond with ordinary working people" He said the election "needs to be about new beginnings - I do new beginnings."

The four TDs who said this weekend that they will back Mr McGuinness are Finian McGrath, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Michael Healy-Rae and Tom Fleming.

Yesterday Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister said he would meet all heads of state "without exception", if he elected President.

When Queen Elizabeth II made her first visit to Ireland in May, Sinn Fein did not take part in any of the main ceremonies.

However, Mr McGuinness said if “the people of Ireland decide that I should be their president, my responsibilities and duties would be to meet heads of state from all over the world and to do that without exception and that would be my position."

Mr McGuinness (61) who represents Mid-Ulster in the Northern Assembly, and is also an abstentionist MP for the constituency in the House of Commons, will take leave of absence from his post as Deputy First Minister to contest the election. He is expected to be replaced in the post for the duration of the campaign by the party’s Minister for Education, John O’Dowd.

Mr McGuinness was a leading member of the Provisional IRA for nearly four decades and was accused in 2005 by then minister for justice Michael McDowell of being a member of that group’s army council.

With Gerry Adams he took a leading role in the peace process and has strongly condemned the violence of dissident republicans in recent time.

Mr Adams said yesterday that the presidential election would give Mr McGuinness the platform to continue his work and put it on a national footing.

“I believe he can be the people’s president. If elected he will draw the average industrial wage. He will dedicate himself to a genuine national reconciliation and the unity of our people. He will personify hope in the great genius and integrity of all the people of this island, Catholics, Protestants and Dissenters,” said Mr Adams.

Mr McGuinness is regarded as by far the most formidable candidate for the presidency in the ranks of Sinn Féin and his nomination is a signal that the party intends making a strong bid to win the office.

If the party can win more than 12.5 per cent of the vote (a quarter of a quota) it will be entitled to have election expenses of up to €200,000 reimbursed by the taxpayer.