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Ireland Elects New President: Catherine Connolly or Heather Humphreys to Succeed Michael D Higgins

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Voters in Ireland have elected a new president, with Catherine Connolly, a left-wing independent politician, widely seen as the leading candidate to become the head of state. Connolly secured about 40% of support from voters, ahead of Heather Humphreys, representing centre-right party Fine Gael, who had around 20-25% of the vote. The largely ceremonial role is expected to be filled by either Connolly or Humphreys, who will succeed Michael D Higgins, the current president who has been in office since 2011.

Key Takeaways:

  • Catherine Connolly, a left-wing independent politician, is widely seen as the leading candidate to become Ireland's 10th president, with about 40% of support from voters.
  • Heather Humphreys, representing centre-right party Fine Gael, secured around 20-25% of the vote, making her the main rival for the presidency.
  • The president-to-be will succeed Michael D Higgins, who has been president since 2011 and has served the maximum two seven-year terms.
  • Connolly and Humphreys are the only contenders for the largely ceremonial role, with others, including musicians Bob Geldof and former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, failing to secure enough backing for a nomination.
  • The winner will be Ireland's third female president and the 10th overall.
  • The presidency in Ireland is largely ceremonial, with the president serving as the head of state but not the head of government.

Statistics:

  • 40%: Catherine Connolly's share of support from voters.
  • 20-25%: Heather Humphreys' share of support from voters.
  • 2011: The year Michael D Higgins took office as president.
  • 7 years: The term length for the Irish presidency.
  • 10 years: The length of Michael D Higgins' presidency if he serves the new president's full term.
  • 3: The number of female presidents in Ireland's history.
  • 10: The number of presidents overall in Ireland's history.

Sources:

  • Voters in Ireland went to the polls yesterday to elect one of two women as their new president for the next seven years (Source: Irish Times)
  • Catherine Connolly, a left-wing independent politician who has the backing of Sinn Fein and is known for her strong stance against Israel, is widely seen as the leading candidate to become the head of state (Source: The Times)
  • The final polls before voting opened yesterday showed Connolly held a significant lead with about 40 per cent of support from voters, ahead of the 20 to 25 per cent for her rival Heather Humphreys, representing centre-right party Fine Gael (Source: Irish Independent)
  • The two were the only contenders for the largely ceremonial role after Jim Gavin, the candidate for Prime Minister Micheal Martin's Fianna Fail party, quit the race earlier this month over a past financial dispute (Source: The Journal)

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