POLITICS

Left-leaning independent Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidential election

Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly won Ireland’s presidential election in a landslide, taking 63% of first‑preference votes to Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys on 29%. The president’s role is largely ceremonial, but Connolly, 68, pledged an inclusive approach that champions diversity, peace and neutrality as she prepares to succeed Michael D. Higgins as Ireland’s 10th president and third woman to hold the office. Turnout was about 46%, and nearly 214,000 ballots were invalid — a tenfold rise since 2018 — prompting officials to review nomination thresholds. Parties on the left hailed the result as a political shift.

Reviewed by JQJO team

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