Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has announced the date that his successor will be elected.
Writing in a blog post published today, entitled Looking for a Job?, Adams called on any Sinn Féin members hoping to take on the "unwaged job" to make themselves known by the January 19 deadline.
"If you are a member of Sinn Féin, and are interested in an unwaged job, you now have until Friday January 19 to submit your nomination papers for the position of Uachtarán Shinn Féin," he said.
He went on to speak of his confidence that under the next leader the party will grow “even bigger and stronger in the time ahead”, claiming it would be someone elected by Irish "citizens" and "not by elites in Dublin or London".
He explained: "The new leader of Sinn Féin will face many challenges, some of these internal to the party as we seek to continue to grow in political strength and improve the skills of our activists.
"It is a fact that Sinn Féin is electorally and organisationally stronger than at any time since partition."
He added: "This is as a result of the great team of political activists that we have consciously developed over recent years. We have to build on this and make Sinn Féin, as a national movement, fit for purpose."
Adams goes on to confirm that the next party President will be announced on February 10, the date set for the special Ard Fheis that will elect the new leader.
Regarding what the new leader will have in store on the work front, Adams explained: "There are external challenges facing the new leader. These include the need to agree a positive outcome to the negotiations to restore the power sharing, partnership institutions in the North; the all-island bodies established by the Good Friday Agreement; preparing the party for a general election in the 26 counties and potential elections in the North; and charting a course through the madness that is Brexit."
He added: "This is an exciting time to be an Irish republican and to be part of the process of renewal and regeneration in the party. On February 10th we will have a new party leader who will bring their own unique style and vision to the party.
"With a new leader at the helm I am confident of that. So, if you want a new future, a better future, a future determined by citizens, and not by elites in Dublin or London, then join me and twelve thousand others in Sinn Féin as we write a new and defining chapter in the history of our nation.”
