Former UFC champion Conor McGregor declared his candidacy for Ireland’s presidency on Thursday, building his platform on opposition to European Union immigration policies.
“Any other Presidential candidate they attempt to put forward will be of no resistance to them. I will!” McGregor wrote to his Instagram followers after announcing his bid to run in the election, which must be held by November.
The MMA star promised to challenge EU migration regulations aimed at distributing asylum seeker processing across member states. If elected, McGregor pledged to hold a national referendum on the issue.
His announcement follows a controversial White House visit on St. Patrick’s Day, where he met with US President Donald Trump. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin subsequently criticized McGregor’s statements as inconsistent with Irish values.
McGregor, who has pivoted to politics after stepping away from fighting, has claimed Ireland risks “losing its Irishness” and that rural communities have been “abandoned” by the current government.
Ireland recorded its highest immigration levels in 16 years in 2023, with government statistics showing 141,600 new arrivals in a nation of 5 million.
McGregor has previously aligned with anti-immigration protests and has faced legal troubles, including a civil case that resulted in a substantial damages award last year, which he is appealing.
However, his announcement doesn’t mean he’ll be able to run for the country’s top office. According to Ireland’s electoral commission, presidential candidates need to be nominated either by “at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (this means TDs or Senators)” or at least four local counties or city councils.
Information for this story was found via the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
