Conor McGregor, the former champion in the UFC ambitiously hinted at a shot for President of Ireland in 2025. His candidacy emerged from social media posts where he expressed frustration with the current political setup in Ireland, and he has labeled the government officials as “charlatans” and called for more direct accountability to the public. He has attacked the link between the establishment and political parties most sharply, and pledged to dissolve the Dáil (Irish parliament) if necessary, placing himself in the populist, anti-establishment camp.
Mc-Gregor uses his youth and independence from party control as an asset to other potential candidates, who may be longstanding political figures like Gerry Adams, Bertie Ahern, and Enda Kenny-whom he repeatedly attacks for being too beholden to entrenched politics. His manifest promises weekly referendums on important topics to guarantee day-to-day popular involvement, which he hinted he could finance personally.
As President I hold the power to summon the Dáil as well as dissolve it. So as i said before, I would have all the answers the people of Ireland seek from these thieves of the working man, these disrupters of the family unit, these destructors of small businesses, and on and on…
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) SEPTEMBER 5, 2024
How he would officially run, McGregor would need to be endorsed by either 20 members of the Irish legislature or four county councils. While he hasn’t officially confirmed his candidacy as of now, his rhetoric and actions on social media say otherwise about seriousness in running.
The verbal salvo against the Irish government by McGregor, particularly at hot moments such as the riots in Dublin last November 2023, has apparently propelled his political ambitions. He has been in a position to establish himself with great fanfare as a young, dynamic, and energetic politician against previously established figures. The announcement brought high levels of media interest and discussion, with many interested in how McGregor’s foray into politics from the world of sport would translate.
