Conor McGregor has withdrawn from the race to become Ireland’s next president after admitting he was unable to gather the required support to make the ballot.
Under Ireland’s constitution, candidates must be nominated either by 20 members of parliament or by four local authorities. The former UFC star had been due to attend meetings of Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council in an attempt to secure backing, but conceded he could not gain the necessary support.
In a statement, McGregor said: “Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time.”
He insisted his intentions to run were “sincere and genuine” but described Ireland’s eligibility rules as an “outdated straitjacket” designed to keep challengers from outside mainstream politics off the ballot. McGregor claimed the constitution ensured elections were “fixed to ensure only Establishment-approved candidates may be selected”.
The 36-year-old added: “This democratic deficit against the will of the Irish people has now been successfully magnified by my expression of interest. This is not the end, but the beginning of my political journey.”
McGregor has previously said he wants to “improve lives, defend rights, and serve the Irish people with dedication and integrity”, and vowed to continue lobbying for Ireland’s interests “on the global stage”.
His decision follows recent setbacks off the pitch. Last year McGregor lost a civil case against a woman who accused him of sexual assault in a Dublin hotel in 2018. He was ordered to pay nearly €250,000 (£215,000) in damages after a jury found him civilly liable. In July, three judges rejected his appeal.
The October presidential election will go ahead without McGregor’s candidacy, removing one of the race’s most high-profile and controversial figures.