Picking a president

Sir, – Further to Leslie Lawless’s comments (“An election for our next president”, August 11th) the Constitution allows a president to stand for a second term. The provision to self-nominate avoids the president being automatically beholden to political interests in seeking a nomination.

President Higgins has every right to put himself forward for re-election regardless of any previous intention. It’s for others to decide if they want to offer an alternative.

You cannot penalise a president from seeking a second term because he has been too good! – Yours, etc,

SÉAMUS DOOLEY,

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The Tenters, Dublin 8.