THE GREEN PARTY has decided to back Independent candidate Catherine Connolly in the upcoming presidential election. 

Party leader Roderic O’Gorman wrote to the Green Party membership this afternoon to inform them of the decision. 

Connolly, who will formally launch her campaign on Monday, now has the support of the Social Democrats, Labour, People Before Profit, the Greens, and a handful of independent TDs and Senators. 

The decision by the Green Party executive committee comes after a consultative survey of the party membership in which over 700 members responded. 

“The Green Party aligns with Deputy Connolly on a number of issues and would differ from her on others. But in areas that are core to GP values — her track record in highlighting the genocide in Gaza, her focus on resilient communities and her engagement with the issue of climate change in her campaign — we believe she is the candidate who most closely represents the values of our Party,” O’Gorman wrote. 

Jim Gavin lodging his election papers at Dublin's Custom House this morning alongside Minister Jack Chambers Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

Sinn Féin is set to announce who it will be backing in the presidential election tomorrow afternoon following a meeting of its Ard Chomhairle. 

It remains unclear whether they will back Connolly or run their own candidate.

Elsewhere, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fáil Jim Gavin both formally lodged their election papers in Dublin today. 

Heather Humphreys lodging her election papers this afternoon in a rainy Dublin. Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

The deadline for nominations in the presidential election is next Wednesday, 24 September. 

The election will take place on Friday, 24 October.