Catherine Connolly, an independent candidate, has won Ireland’s presidential election with a decisive 63.36 % of first‑choice votes. She will become the country’s 10th president and take office in November, succeeding Michael D. Higgins after his two‑term tenure.
The 68‑year‑old Connolly, who has represented Galway West in the Irish parliament since 2016, was backed by several left‑wing parties. Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Labour joined forces behind her, even though she launched her campaign in July with only a handful of supporters. Her main rival was Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael, a former government minister. Humphreys received 29.46 % of first‑choice votes and praised Connolly as “a president for all of us” before the full results were announced.
Connolly’s victory came in a massive landslide, with 914,143 first‑preference votes, matching polls that had predicted a clear win. A third contender, Fianna Fail‑backed Jim Gavin, pulled out of the race after a lobbying dispute.
She has a solid parliamentary track record: she served as a psychologist and barrister before entering politics and was the first woman to become Deputy Speaker of the Lower House in 2020.
Higgins congratulated Connolly on her win, saying the president‑elect would have the full support of the office as she prepares for her inauguration next month. Nevertheless, some observers expect tension between Connolly’s promise to respect the limits of the role and the centre‑right government’s policies.
Although the Irish presidency is largely ceremonial, Connolly’s triumph is seen as a sharp rebuke to the current government. She will take her oath in November, bringing a new era of leadership to the position.
Source: ianslive
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