Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has withdrawn his name from the party’s European Election selection convention for the Midlands North-west constituency.
It comes a day after Minister of State Josepha Madigan stepped down from her position and announced she would not run in the next general election.
Last Monday, former champion jockey and businesswoman Nina Carberry announced she would seek the Fine Gael nomination to run in the European Parliament elections in the Midlands-North West constituency.
Sitting MEPS for that constituency include Mr Markey and his party colleague Maria Walsh, Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Sinn Féin’s Chris MacManus.
In a statement this afternoon, Mr Markey said that he would like to thank “all the members for all their generous and valued support”.
“However, I believe the most viable path to winning two seats for Fine Gael in the election in June is with two candidates, and I wish the remaining candidates all the best during their campaigns,” he added.
“I am immensely proud of the work I have achieved in the last three years as an MEP since I took on the role after Mairead McGuinness became an EU Commissioner.
Mr Markey says he will now focus on his return to Co Louth and “in particular Drogheda which has faced particular challenges in recent months and years, I want to play a central role in tackling these issues and working closely with Fergus O’Dowd TD to carry on work he has completed over the last 22 years”.
