The SDLP chairman, Mr Jonathan Stephenson, has said now might not be the right time for Mr John Hume to opt out of the peace process and stand for the Presidency. Mr Stephenson said that there would be excitement tinged with regret if Mr Hume ran for the Presidency and "relief tinged with regret" if he decided not to. "On the plus side, John Hume would make an excellent President and ambassador for the whole of Ireland."
His Presidency would underpin the ceasefire and would be a powerful beacon for the peaceful reconciliation of both parts of this island.
However, on the minus side, the Presidency was a non-political position and Mr Hume was "a deeply political person", Mr Stephenson said. He believed the SDLP leader still had a vital part to play in the peace process and that he would be sorely missed if he left Northern politics.
"With the substantive talks, hopefully, finally about to begin, this may not be the ideal time for the peace process to drop the pilot, although John is by no means the SDLP's only powerful driving force for a settlement."