SINN FÉIN is to keep its cards close to its chest on a possible presidential candidate when up to 2,000 delegates and visitors gather in Belfast this weekend for the ardfheis, the party has confirmed.
Tonight hundreds of delegates will be welcomed at the gleaming Waterfront Hall for Sinn Féin’s annual conference, the first to be held north of the Border.
There was speculation that party president Gerry Adams might seek to exploit the opportunity during his keynote address tomorrow night – which will be broadcast by RTÉ – to reveal if Sinn Féin will contest the election.
But a party spokesman yesterday ruled this out: “Whether we will stand in the election will be a matter for the new ardchomhairle to decide. And that won’t meet until after the ardfheis.”
Party sources said a decision was likely soon. One senior source was adamant that Mr Adams had no intention of running. “No chance at all,” he said.
There are differences of opinion within Sinn Féin as to whether it should run a candidate, with a possible campaign cost of €750,000 a significant negative consideration. However, a number of sources close to Mr Adams privately said the party should field a candidate.
One such proponent said that Sinn Féin would be ill-served if it lost the opportunity to press its agenda in a well-publicised election campaign.
“Fianna Fáil have abandoned the presidency . . . we would not win, but a realistic target is a 17-18 per cent [of the] first preference vote,” he said.
He said the party should stand one of its own members rather than support an independent. He insisted it has not yet decided on a candidate.
Among the names mentioned so far are party vice-president Mary Lou McDonald, former Stormont minister of agriculture Michelle Gildernew and Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.
Party sources said Mr Adams, who will be 63 next month, intends to lead the party into the next elections in the South and North, which are not expected for at least three years.
One party stalwart who knows him well said Mr Adams would not be tempted by the presidency. “Being president of Ireland does not fit into the strategy at all,” he added.
Delegates are gathering at an opportune time for Sinn Féin. In the South’s general election and the North’s Assembly election it increased its representation and now has 14 TDs and 29 MLAs.
* Presbyterian minister the Rev David Latimer has defended his decision to speak at the ardfheis tonight despite criticism from unionist politicians such as Gregory Campbell and Jim Allister.
Dr Latimer, who is minister of the First Derry Presbyterian Church, said he decided to address the conference based on a friendship he had established over the past six years with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Dr Latimer, who served as a British army chaplain in Afghanistan, said Mr McGuinness was instrumental in helping secure funding to refurbish his church and secure it against vandals.