Reports indicate that Conor McGregor has declared his intention to seek the office of President of Ireland. However, he faces a significant hurdle due to the country's nomination requirements. Under the current system, a presidential candidate must be nominated by either 20 members of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) or four county councils.
In response to this, McGregor has launched a petition to change the nomination process to allow his name to be included on the ballot, arguing that the current system is undemocratic and restricts the voice of the Irish people. He has asked for signatures from Irish citizens at home and abroad to support this initiative.
While reports vary slightly on the exact number of signatures, multiple sources confirm that the petition has gained thousands of signatures in a short period. As of recent reports, the number of signatures is under 8,000. It is important to note that this petition is an attempt to alter the rules for candidacy, and does not automatically make him a candidate for the presidency.
McGregor's political ambitions have been met with resistance from many Irish politicians, with a previous survey by Sky News finding no support for his candidacy among 134 politicians who responded. His past legal issues, including a civil court finding that he sexually assaulted a woman, have also been cited by some as a reason he is unfit for public office.