Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland's Deputy First minister and one of the Sinn Féin's front rank leaders, is to run for the Irish presidency. That McGuinness will contest the election, set for late October, will be confirmed Sunday by the party's ard comhairle, according to reports.
The entry of McGuinness into the race is a potential game changer in an already crowded field and is a bold step for a party that draws votes on both sides of the border, but in different jurisdictional elections.
Because of voting law in the Republic, Irish citizens in the North will not be able to vote in the presidential election. Indeed, McGuinness will not be able to vote for himself.
