BERTIE AHERN HAS reportedly given up on running for president.

The former Fianna Fáil leader said that while he believes he would have made a good president, crucially he doesn’t have the backing of Micheál Martin.

Ahern said he wouldn’t consider running as an Independent because he respects the party too much.

In a video released to supporters, Ahern said: “In all my time in Fianna Fáil, I’ve never seen a period where the leadership really lose out in these things. 

“Particularly when the leadership indicates so strongly, and [gets] personally get involved for a candidate, it’s unlikely that the leader loses out on these things.”

Ahern is referencing former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin, who has secured the Taoiseach’s support.

“I suppose the only area where [Micheál Martin] has indicated in the past why he was anti-me was the Mahon Tribunal and the economy,” Ahern said.

“I don’t think we can say too much about the economy because we were all in it together, trying to make sure the economy was the best we could.

“The reality is that the economy from ’97 to today has grown practically nearly every year bar the years of the international recession which was a worldwide recession.”

Today marks the beginning of the nomination period, which runs from 10am this morning until noon on 24 September.

Polling day will be Friday 24 October.