Is Bertie Ahern going to run for president in 2025?

Bertie Ahern was accepted as a member of Fianna Fáil yesterday after more than a decade out of the party.

There have already been hints he's thinking of the Áras.

Bertie for president

Minister for Education, Norma Foley, has hinted that Ahern may run as a Fianna Fáil candidate for president.

When asked if she would back his candidacy she replied "time will tell".

Foley welcomes the three-time Taoiseach back into the party.

Foley praise Ahern's legacy in securing the Good Friday Agreement that saw an end to the violent Troubles in Northern Ireland 25 years ago.

And she said that he has a contribution to make going forward.

Speaking to The Irish Mirror who asked about the chances of Ahern running for the Áras.

Foley said: "I think Bertie Ahern has made an enormous contribution to political life, most especially in terms of peace in this country.

"I think it's rather apt that as we in the coming months look forward to the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that Bertie would have sought to return to Fianna Fáil and I think that's a positive.

"I think we must be cognitive of, not just the work he did at that time, but of the work he continues to do to sustain peace on this island and I think we’re all cognisant of that."

"As regards the presidency ... there's no vacancy there at present.

"I think time will tell what happens in the future."

Why did Bertie Ahern resign from Fianna Fáil?

Ahern was a very successful leader of Fianna Fáil, leading his party to victory in three general elections.

However he resigned from the party in 2012 in the wake of adverse findings of the Mahon Tribunal into irregular planning and payments.

Ahern disputed the findings of the tribunal saying at the time that he had never accepted a bribe or a corrupt payment.

He was facing expulsion from current party leader, Micheál Martin, if he had not chosen to walk away voluntarily.

Martin himself has played-down the prospect of Ahern running for president.

"Nothing like that has been discussed," he said.

"That is just speculation. He just wanted to re-join his local cumann and it is as basic as that."

Presidential elections 2025

Bookmakers Paddy Power have slashed the odds of Ahern being elected the next president when the election rolls around in 2025.

The keen horse racing fan and gambler is a 12/1 shot, in from 50/1, but still some way off the early favourite, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, at 4/1.

President Michael D Higgins, cannot run again as he is completing the end of a second term, and nobody is allowed to take the office a third time.

A spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: "They say a week is a long time in politics so 11 years must be considered an age.

"Bertie's success at the ballot box was legendary and while it's still early days punters are already raiding their shoeboxes to back him for the Áras."

Ahern himself has consistently refused to rule-out the prospect of running for president.

Back in October, Ahern was asked if he'd run for president in 2025.

He joked that 2025 was a long way away.

"Number one, I have to stay alive and then ask me again."

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