Mairead McGuinness has been selected to lead the European People’s Party’s (EPP) association for women.
EPP Women is linked to the European-wide political party and made up of members from more than 20 centre-right political parties including Fine Gael, the German Christian Democrats and French Republicans.
Congratulating Mairead McGuinness in her new role, EPP Women wrote on social media: “We are proud to have you as our new President”
An MEP for more than 15 years and then European Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness was selected as Fine Gael’s candidate in the running for the job as President of Ireland last year.
At the time, she was tipped as the favourite for the job, but suddenly dropped out of the race due to ill health.
Fine Gael’s replacement candidate, Heather Humphries, was never able to garner the same level of support. Instead, independent candidate, Catherine Connolly won the election in October.
Earlier this month, Mairead McGuinness revealed that she had suffered from post-viral fatigue syndrome.
EPP Women describes itself as “an official association dedicated to the advancement of women in the European Union…The association forms a unified front to fight for equality between men and women.”
Mairead McGuinness is also a Vice President of the EPP.