Politics

Michael D Higgins favourite to be re-elected as president

Michael D Higgins is expected to be re-elected as president, according to a bookmaker. File picture by Jane Barlow, Press Association
Michael D Higgins is expected to be re-elected as president, according to a bookmaker. File picture by Jane Barlow, Press Association Michael D Higgins is expected to be re-elected as president, according to a bookmaker. File picture by Jane Barlow, Press Association
By Claire Simpson

MICHAEL D Higgins is odds-on favourite to be re-elected as Irish president.

The 76-year-old, who was first elected in 2011, is expected to seek a second term in office.

President Higgins is due to announce in July that he will run again.

Bookmaker BoyleSports has given the president short odds of 1/100 to win a second term - far ahead of any other candidate.

President Higgins's closest competitors are RTÉ presenter Miriam O'Callaghan, MEP Mairead McGuinness, Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay and European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly, who all have odds of 8/1.

BoyleSports spokeswoman Aoife Heffron said: "Michael D Higgins is the President for the people and it comes as no surprise that he is red hot at an unbackable 1/100 to win a second term and although he will not be without opposition, we can’t see any candidate surpassing Mr Higgins at present".