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| Gerry Adams signals intention to stand down as Sinn Féin leader | Gerry Adams signals intention to stand down as Sinn Féin leader |
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| Gerry Adams has said he is putting plans in place to stand down as leader of Sinn Féin, triggering speculation he may run for the Irish presidency. | Gerry Adams has said he is putting plans in place to stand down as leader of Sinn Féin, triggering speculation he may run for the Irish presidency. |
| The politician, who has been Sinn Féin’s president since the early 1980s, said on Tuesday he would give further details about his plans after the party’s annual conference, Ard Fheis, in November. | The politician, who has been Sinn Féin’s president since the early 1980s, said on Tuesday he would give further details about his plans after the party’s annual conference, Ard Fheis, in November. |
| At a two-day internal conference in the Irish Republic, Adams told party activists he wanted to implement a “planned process of generational change”. | At a two-day internal conference in the Irish Republic, Adams told party activists he wanted to implement a “planned process of generational change”. |
| The Dáil deputy for Louth in the Irish parliament and the former West Belfast MP said he would be seeking re-election as Sinn Féin president at the Ard Fheis for what would presumably be a final term. | The Dáil deputy for Louth in the Irish parliament and the former West Belfast MP said he would be seeking re-election as Sinn Féin president at the Ard Fheis for what would presumably be a final term. |
| But it is the first signal from Adams – one of the longest-serving party leaders in the world – that he is considering stepping down from overall leadership of the republican party. | But it is the first signal from Adams – one of the longest-serving party leaders in the world – that he is considering stepping down from overall leadership of the republican party. |
| There have been strong hints that Adams may seek to run for the Irish presidency when the elections are held in the autumn of 2018. The largely ceremonial post is traditionally held by people who have retired from, or are outside active politics. | There have been strong hints that Adams may seek to run for the Irish presidency when the elections are held in the autumn of 2018. The largely ceremonial post is traditionally held by people who have retired from, or are outside active politics. |
| If Adams stood for the position of head of state he would undoubtedly face serious questions about his alleged IRA past, including a number of atrocities during the Troubles. Adams says he has never been a member of the IRA. |