US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN1477

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001477 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PINR, PREL, SENV 
SUBJECT: IRISH PRESIDENT MCALEESE DECLARED ELECTED FOR 2ND 
TERM 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  On Friday, October 1, incumbent Irish 
President Mary McAleese was constitutionally elected to 
office unopposed for a second term of seven years.  Her 
inauguration is scheduled to take place on November 11, 2004. 
 President McAleese told Ambassador Kenny that her primary 
motivation in running for a second seven-year term is to 
support the Northern Ireland peace process. End Summary. 
 
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BUILDING ON THE FIRST TERM 
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2. (U) At the Custom House in Dublin on October 1, the Chief 
Returning Officer, Mr. Maurice Coughlan, announced Mary 
McAleese's mandated re-election as President of Ireland. As 
no other candidate received the required twenty senatorial 
signatures or endorsement of four counties, President 
McAleese was constitutionally mandated to receive a second 
term, without voters going to the polls.  (The Irish 
Constitution has specific presidential election rules, 
declaring that if only one presidential nominee exists by the 
nomination deadline, then that person is automatically 
elected president.) McAleese is so popular that political 
parties deemed it a waste of resources to try to oppose her. 
The Green party and Labour party asked would-be candidates 
from among their ranks to stand down.  Independent Dana 
Rosemary Scallon fought longer for support, but failed to get 
the necessary signatures to run.  She has gained some 
sympathy questioning whether Ireland's rules are 
"democratic," since they make it easier for an incumbent to 
run than a challenger, and provide for a mandated election 
instead of a ballot in the case of a one-candidate race.  In 
the end, though, given McAleese's popularity and the limited 
power of the presidency, the issue never gained real 
traction.  McAleese will be inaugurated on November 11, 2004, 
at Dublin Castle. 
 
3. (U) The theme of President McAleese's first term was 
"Building Bridges" and it is expected that her second term 
will revolve around similar issues. She is best known for 
supporting issues of justice, equality, social inclusion, 
anti-sectarianism, and reconciliation.  During her first 
term, McAleese attempted to "build bridges" through increased 
cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of 
Ireland.  She is very devoted to continuing the Irish peace 
process, creating quality social programs for the disabled, 
and enhancing cross-border cooperation within the European 
Union. 
 
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BIO 
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4. (U) McAleese was elected as the 8th President of Ireland 
in 1997. Born in Belfast, she is the first president from 
Northern Ireland. In 1994, after serving as the Director of 
the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen's 
University of Belfast for seven years, McAleese became the 
first female Pro-Vice Chancellor at the university. McAleese 
also served as a Barrister and a Professor of Law at Trinity 
College. She has extensive experience as a current affairs 
journalist in radio and television. President McAleese is 
married to Martin McAleese, a well-known accountant and 
dentist who also hails from Northern Ireland.  They have 
three children. 
KENNY