US EditionLeft-winger Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidency
Connolly secured a decisive victory with 63.36% of first preference votes, succeeding Michael D Higgins whose term ends November 10.
- On Friday, Irish voters chose Catherine Connolly, left-wing independent, who was announced the winner on Sunday with 63.36% of first-preference votes.
- President Michael D Higgins's second and final term is due to end on November 10, and he spent a night at St James's Hospital receiving antibiotics after an examination on Sunday.
- Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys took 29.46% of first-preference votes, while Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin received 7.18% despite withdrawing weeks before polling day after repaying a debt to a former tenant.
- Fianna Fail's handling of the race drew criticism after Micheal Martin and Jack Chambers backed Jim Gavin, prompting John McGuinness, John Lahart, and Anne Rabbitte to call for leadership discussions.
- Ms Connolly is a left-wing independent who will succeed President Michael D Higgins, age 84.
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20 Articles
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Ireland elects left-wing politician with record of anti-Israel rhetoric as president
Ireland’s new president will be a left-wing politician who has sharply criticized Israel in parliament and faced backlash for comments defending Hamas. The election of Catherine Connolly, a member of the Irish parliament since 2016, marks the elevation of a vocally anti-Israel voice at a time when Ireland has stood out internationally for its critical stance on Israel. Last year, Israel announced that it would shutter its embassy in Ireland, cit…
Ireland's president-elect is a left-wing, anti-establishment figure who is outspoken on Gaza
Ireland's president for the next seven years is an independent lawmaker who has long spoken in support of Palestinians and has been vocal about her distrust of European Union policies.
In Ireland, Catherine Connolly won the presidential election, clearly opposing the only opposing candidate Heather Humphreys from the ruling centre-right Fine Gael party. As an independent candidate, Connolly was supported by left-wing parties such as Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and the Greens. So far, she drew attention to herself with sharp tones against NATO, the EU and Israel.
PORTRAIT - Led by a union of the main left-wing parties, the independent Member of Parliament for Radical Speech is a fervent supporter of Irish unification and the neutrality of her country.
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- 55% of the sources lean Left
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