Donegal-based Presidential hopeful Peter Casey said saying anything negative about President Michael D Higgins is like attacking Santa Claus.
He made the comments as he officially kicked off his election campaign at the Irish emigration museum, Epic, in Dublin’s Custom House Quay building.
The Inishowen-based businessman Michael D had not inspired the presidency, as some previous presidents had, and he had “stopped being wonderful” about two or three years ago.
Mr Casey added that he seemed to be the only person who dared be critical of the president.
“I’m the only one that’s actually sort of suggested that he is anything other than Santa Claus,” Mr Casey said. “It’s a little bit like attacking Santa Claus when you say anything negative about him.”
He added “The only thing I’ve heard about Michael D is he was good with the Queen,” Mr Casey said.
Mr Casey said he was not impressed, as there would have been protocol in place during the visit.
“I don’t really give him points for meeting the Queen,” he said.
“I don’t think he’s done anything bad… but he hasn’t inspired the presidency the way that perhaps some of the other previous presidents have.”
Mr Casey criticised the president for not grasping the opportunity to take part in debates and discuss what he had achieved in the past seven years.
“He had an opportunity to explain and he decided to go and have a cup of tea with Prince Edward,” Mr Casey said.
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, met President Higgins and his wife Sabina at Aras an Uachtarain last month during a royal visit to the country.
Mr Casey’s wife Helen introduced her husband at the launch as a man with a “fierce sense of right and wrong”, who only wanted to make things better.
She told those gathered: “It is with great pride that I introduce you to Peter Casey the next president of Ireland.”
Mr Casey said he had a “genuine desire” to really make a difference to the people in Ireland and that he believed the best way to achieve that was by resonating with the diaspora.
The hopeful said he intended to run for president for a second time if he wasn’t successful in this campaign, but added that he was “confident I’ll be standing again as the president”.
The election will take place on October 26.
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