Left-wing Independent Catherine Connolly Wins Ireland’s Presidential Election
TL/DR –
Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly won Ireland’s presidential election with the support of the country’s left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin. Connolly, who secured 63% of first-preference votes, intends to champion diversity and peace whilst maintaining Ireland’s policy of neutrality. She will succeed Michael D. Higgins, becoming the country’s 10th president and the third woman to hold the post.
Left-wing Independent Wins Irish Presidential Election
In a landslide victory, left-wing independent Catherine Connolly has won Ireland’s presidential election with support from Sinn Féin and other left-leaning parties. Official results reveal Connolly won 63% of first-preference votes against her contrary, Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael, who secured 29%.
Connolly pledged to champion diversity and vowed to be a voice for peace. She also raised concerns about the European Union’s growing “militarization” and Israel’s actions in Gaza. Critics claim that her views could potentially strain Ireland’s relations with its allies.
Replacing Michael D. Higgins, Connolly is now Ireland’s third female president and the tenth overall. Despite the largely ceremonial role of an Irish president, her victory has been celebrated as a major shift in Irish politics.
Connolly and Humphreys were the only contenders after Jim Gavin, Fianna Fáil party’s candidate, withdrew from the race due to a past financial dispute. Despite his withdrawal, Gavin still won 7% of first preference votes.
High-profile figures like Bob Geldof and Conor McGregor failed to secure a nomination for the presidential race. Furthermore, the electoral commission reported a higher than usual number of invalidated votes, indicating dissatisfaction among voters.
About 46% of the 3.6 million eligible voters participated in the election. Roughly 214,000 invalid ballots were reported, a tenfold increase from the 2018 presidential election.
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