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Nominations for the presidential election have officially closed.<\/p>\nNominations for the presidential election have officially closed.<\/p>\n
There are six candidates in the running including the incumbent Michael D Higgins.<\/p>\n
All six candidates have submitted nomination papers at Custom House in Dublin in the last few days.<\/p>\n
Businessman and star of Dragons\u2019 Den Gavin Duffy became an official candidate after securing the support of Waterford, Meath, Carlow and Wicklow councils.<\/p>\n
Sean Gallagher was backed by Roscommon, Leitrim, Mayo and Wexford councils, while Senator Joan Freeman received four nominations from Cork City, Galway County, Fingal and Galway City.<\/p>\n
Businessman Peter Casey was backed by Kerry, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary councils.<\/p>\n
Sinn Fein selected MEP Liadh Ni Riada as its candidate last week.<\/p>\n
Mr Higgins nominated himself to run for re-election. In keeping with precedent for the nomination of a sitting president, his nomination papers were submitted by his representative Art O\u2019Leary, secretary general to the president, who was accompanied by the president\u2019s election agent Conor Power.<\/p>\n
The president will formally launch his re-election campaign later today.<\/p>\n
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail backed Mr Higgins for re-election, and did not field their own candidates in support of his campaign.<\/p>\n
The election will take place on Friday, October 26, with the winner inaugurated on November 11.<\/p>\n