London, Oct 26 – Catherine Connolly, the independent politician who counts herself among Ireland’s best‑known public voices, has been elected the country’s tenth president. The 68‑year‑old won 63.36 % of the first‑choice votes, collecting 914,143 ballots in a landslide that matched the latest opinion polls.
Connolly, who has sat in the Dáil for Galway West since 2016 and served as the first woman deputy speaker in 2020, was backed by several left‑wing parties, including Sinn Fein. She faced the Fine Gael candidate, former minister Heather Humphreys, who received 29.46 % of the vote.
The race kicked off on Friday and the results were announced Saturday evening. Humphreys congratulated Connolly, saying she was a president for all of us, before the full count was released. A third name on the ballot, Fianna Fail‑backed Jim Gavin, had stepped out earlier in October after a rental‑dispute controversy.
Connolly will take office to succeed Michael D. Higgins, who is finishing his second seven‑year term later this month. A headline speech from the new president urged citizens to use their voices, saying a republic thrives on constructive questioning and that together they can shape a new Ireland that values everyone.
This victory makes Connolly the first independent candidate to win the Irish presidency, and her win is already being celebrated across the country and abroad.
Source: ianslive
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