Sinn Fein Gets Needed Backing for President Bid, Times Says

Sinn Fein, which has nominated Martin McGuinness as its candidate in the Republic of Ireland’s presidential election, has secured enough votes from independent lawmakers to launch the bid, the Sunday Times reported.

Four independent lawmakers in Ireland’s parliament have nominated McGuinness, Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister, and with the 17 votes Sinn Fein holds it brings Sinn Fein above the required level of 20 votes to put McGuinness forward, the Sunday Times reported, without saying where it got the information.

To contact the reporter on this story: Colm Heatley in Belfast at cheatley@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dara Doyle in Dublin at ddoyle1@bloomberg.net