Maria Steen and the Fragility of Irish Democracy
Maria Steen’s campaign for Ireland’s presidency ended not with a vote, but with a bureaucratic thud. On 24 September 2025, the barrister and mother of five fell two signatures short of the 20 Oireachtas nominations needed to secure a place on the ballot. Despite rallying 18 supporters – including independents like the Healy-Rae brothers, Marian Harkin, and Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín and Paul Lawless - and chasing county council backing, Steen’s bid was halted before it could reach the electorate. The race for Áras an Uachtaráin now proceeds with Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael), Catherine Connolly (supported by left-leaning independents), and Jim Gavin (Fianna Fáil). Steen’s absence raises sharp questions about the state of Ireland’s democratic process.
Steen’s platform - centred on family, constitutional integrity, and a traditional vision of Irish identity - resonated with a significant portion of the population. Polls show 70 per cent of Irish people identify as Catholic, and 74.9 per cent voted to retain Article 41.2’s recognition of motherhood in the 2024 care referendum. Her appeal as a skilled debater, seen in clashes with the Tánaiste during referendum campaigns, and her focus on the ‘politically homeless’ gave her a unique voice. Yet the system kept her off the ballot, exposing structural barriers that shape who gets to run.
Ireland’s presidential nomination process is a high hurdle for independents. Candidates need either 20 Oireachtas signatures or four county council endorsements, while party nominees glide through via internal selection. Steen’s team, backed by Aontú, failed to secure any council support - a first for an independent since 1990. Her 18 Oireachtas nominations, including from Independent Ireland, showed broad appeal, but the final two proved elusive. Some, like Senator Michael McDowell, a past referendum ally, hesitated to endorse. Critics argue this reflects a system skewed against outsiders, where established parties and cautious independents hold the keys.
The reaction has been fierce. On X, voices decry a ‘rigged’ process, with calls for a #SpoilTheVote campaign to protest the limited field. Declan Ganley, a prominent entrepreneur, noted that all current candidates aligned with Dublin’s progressive consensus in recent referendums, unlike much of the electorate. The Natural Women’s Council, claiming to represent ‘over 100,000 parents and grandparents’, and others have flooded Leinster House with petitions for a broader choice. One X user lamented a ‘hollow’ democracy, contrasting it with Ireland’s poorer but more spirited past.
Defenders of the system argue that nomination thresholds ensure serious candidates, not fringe voices, reach the ballot. Steen’s views – notably her opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage - were seen by some as divisive, though she framed them as rooted in constitutional principle. Supporters counter that democracy demands letting voters, not gatekeepers, decide. As barrister Laoise de Brún posted online, nomination isn’t endorsement; it’s about trusting the electorate.
Steen’s near-miss - 90 per cent of the Oireachtas threshold – highlights both her strength and the system’s rigidity. Her campaign galvanised a coalition of traditionalists, referendum voters, and those wary of progressive policies like the EU Migration Pact. Commentators like David Quinn see the stirrings of a ‘new Conservative movement’, uniting diverse groups against a perceived elite consensus. Whether this momentum reshapes Irish politics remains unclear.
What Steen’s exclusion reveals is a democracy that struggles to accommodate dissent. The presidency, meant to reflect Ireland’s collective identity, risks becoming a contest between pre-approved candidates. Her campaign, though stopped short, has sparked a debate about who gets to speak for Ireland - and whether the system truly serves its people. The answer lies not in signatures, but in the will of the voters left voiceless.