Ireland's left-wing independent Catherine Connolly wins presidential election
Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, who secured the backing of Ireland's left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin, has won the country's presidential election in a landslide victory against her center-right rival.
Official results showed strong voter support for Connolly as president, a largely ceremonial role in Ireland. She won 63% of first-preference votes once spoiled votes were excluded, compared to 29% of her rival, Heather Humphreys, of the center-right party Fine Gael.
Connolly, 68, said Saturday evening at Dublin Castle that she would champion diversity and be a voice for peace and one that "builds on our policy of neutrality."
"I would be an inclusive president for all of you, and I regard it as an absolute honor," she said.
Humphreys conceded she had lost earlier Saturday, before vote counting had finished.
"Catherine will be a president for all of us and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best," she said.
Polls have suggested consistent and strong voter support for Connolly over rival Humphreys for president, a largely ceremonial role in Ireland.
Connolly, a former barrister and an independent lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticizing Israel over the war in Gaza.
She has garnered the backing of a range of left-leaning parties, including Féin, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats.
She and Humphreys were the only contenders after Jim Gavin, the candidate for Prime Minister Micheál Fianna Fail party, quit the race three weeks before the election over a long-ago financial dispute.
Martin, who heads Ireland's government, had personally backed Gavin as a presidential candidate. Though Gavin had stopped campaigning, his name remained on the ballot paper because of his late withdrawal from the race.
While Irish presidents represent the country on the world stage, host visiting heads of state and play an important constitutional role, they do not have the power to shape laws or policies.
The leader of the Irish Labour Party said Connolly has united parties "with an alternative vision."
Ivana Bacik said left-wing parties could now look at how they can "combine together" and "offer a real alternative" in the next general election.
Humphreys, a former cabinet minister, had stressed that she is a center-ground, pro-business, pro-EU candidate who will strive for unity.
Others — including musician Bob Geldof and the former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor — had indicated they wished to run for president but failed to receive enough backing for a nomination.
Connolly will succeed Michael D. Higgins, who has been president since 2011, having served the maximum two seven-year terms. She will be Ireland's 10th president and the third woman to hold the post.
Voting slips were being counted by hand. The final result will be declared later Saturday once all 43 electoral constituencies across the country have completed counting.