Fact-check: Unlikely that Conor McGregor can run for Irish presidency

Former martial arts fighter Conor McGregor will very unlikely be able to run for the Irish presidency, two experts have told Euroverify, despite widespread media reports claiming the UFC champion will attempt to appear on the presidential ballot, which is due to take place by 11 November.

McGregor, who has emerged as a figurehead for Ireland's far right, made headlines last Friday when he announced on Instagram he would run for the presidency on an anti-immigration platform.

But several media outlets have failed to explain that his chances of getting his name on the ballot paper are extremely slim.

McGregor, who last year was found liable for raping and battering a woman in Dublin and has faced other allegations of sexual assault in Spain and France, was recently hosted by Donald Trump at the White House as part of a Patrick's Day visit.

He has also received endorsements from Elon Musk and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, who faces charges of human trafficking and organised crime involving the exploitation of women.

Speaking from the White House press room, McGregor levelled a string of unfounded allegations at the government in Dublin, claiming that the "illegal immigration racket is running ravage (sic) on the country".

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin hit back saying McGregor "does not speak for the Irish people in any shape or form".

In his announcement on Instagram last Friday, McGregor made misleading promises in his bid to rally support, saying he would "oppose" the EU's migration pact — new legislation aimed at distributing the burden of processing asylum claims across EU member states — and that he would put the pact up to a referendum.

But even if elected to the presidency, he would be unable to deliver on either promises without the government or parliament's backing.

Euroverify spoke to two legal experts to break down why McGregor's chances are all but zero.

Could McGregor run for president?

The Irish president is directly elected by the Irish people for a 7-year term. A president cannot run for more than two terms.

The role is currently held by Michael D. Higgins, who is serving his second term, and the next election must take place by November 11.

A presidential nominee has to be an Irish citizen over the age of 35, criteria which McGregor meets. But the nominee must also either by nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament, or by at least four of Ireland's 31 local authorities.

A former president can also nominate themselves.

Eoin O'Malley, professor in political science at Dublin City University, told Euronews the chances of McGregor passing these thresholds are "exceedingly unlikely".

There are no 20 Oireachtas members who would back his bid, O'Malley explained, and while councils have in the past supported candidates' bids, McGregor is "too controversial a figure" for this to happen again.

"This is the highest role in the land. They are the first person of Ireland. so we have put in constitutional quality controls," Jennifer Kavanagh, Law Lecturer at South East Technological University, told Euronews.

"The parliamentary route is going to be pretty much locked in by political party allegiances. The local authority route is pretty much a free for all and we have had some very quirky candidates in the past."

"But remember, that individual is not very popular in Ireland," she added. "It might look like he's very popular outside of Ireland. Within Ireland he is not that popular. He's certainly not as popular as certain social media platforms would like to try and make outsiders think."

Could the president block EU legislation?

In his Instagram post, McGregor suggested he could use his powers if elected president to "stand up to the government" and "oppose" Ireland's compliance with recent EU legislation known as the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The pact, agreed upon by EU countries in December 2023 after years of tough negotiations and rubber-stamped by the European Parliament in April last year, aims to completely revamp the EU's migration and asylum policy.

While all 27 EU countries are obliged to comply with the Pact, two countries —Ireland and Denmark — have the ability to opt out from legislation that concerns asylum, borders, migration, police or criminal justice cooperation.

However, last July, the European Commission confirmed Ireland had "opted in" to the pact after a vote was held in the Oireachtas in July.

A plan to reform Ireland's asylum laws in order to conform with the pact was approved by the government on Tuesday this week.

The Irish presidency is largely a ceremonial role with limited powers, meaning reversing this decision, as McGregor claims he would, would be virtually impossible.

Legislative bills must be signed by the president, but cannot be vetoed. If a president refuses to sign a bill in protest, a Presidential Commission signs on their behalf in a matter of days, and impeachment proceedings may follow.

"They cannot say they're not going to bring in legislation because they don't like it," Jennifer Kavanagh explains. "The test is whether it is constitutional or it is not constitutional."

"The president can also refer legislation to the Supreme Court. But if the Supreme Court says the legislation is constitutional, they have to sign it or they have to resign."

What about holding a referendum?

McGregor has claimed he would "put forth" any bill amending Ireland's asylum rules "to referendum," saying it is the "people of Ireland's choice".

But the Irish president does not have the ability to unilaterally call a referendum.

Two types of referendums can in principle be held in Ireland: a constitutional referendum, which requires the approval of both chambers of the Irish parliament, and an ordinary referendum, which requires a petition to the president from both chambers.

But no ordinary referendum has ever been held in Ireland — and in neither case does the Irish President have the ability to initiate the referendum.