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Right and left (Political science)

Catherine Connolly Set to Become Ireland's New President in a Landslide Victory

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Veteran left-winger Catherine Connolly is poised to become Ireland's new president after her only rival, Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys, conceded defeat. Connolly, 68, had been the clear favourite in a presidential race marred by controversy, with early counting showing her on course for a landslide victory. Connolly's campaign has been marked by her divisive rhetoric on Nato and Europe, as well as her vocal support for Irish neutrality and a united Ireland.

Key Takeaways:

  • Catherine Connolly is set to become Ireland's new president after her only rival, Heather Humphreys, conceded defeat.
  • Connolly was the clear favourite in the presidential race, with early counting showing her set for a landslide victory.
  • Connolly's campaign has been marked by her divisive rhetoric on Nato and Europe, as well as her vocal support for Irish neutrality and a united Ireland.
  • Connolly is a vocal critic of Israel, accusing the country of carrying out a genocide in the Gaza Strip.
  • Her hardline stance sparked criticism after she described Hamas as "part of the fabric of the Palestinian people", saying it should be allowed to maintain leadership in Gaza if elected.
  • Connolly is also a staunch advocate for Irish unity, pledging to push for a border poll on Irish unity by the end of her first term.
  • The election for the largely ceremonial role has been overshadowed by criticism that it lacked real choice, with tallies showing a record number of spoiled ballots and low turnout.
  • A slew of celebrities had considered running for the presidency, including Conor McGregor, Michael Flatley, and Sir Bob Geldof, but their campaigns failed to materialise.
  • Connolly's campaign received a boost among young voters after she showed her football skills on the campaign trail.

Statistics:

  • Over 75% of the votes are gone in favor of Catherine Connolly.
  • The ratio of votes for Mr. Gavin and Ms. Humphreys was 3:2, while the votes for Mr. Gavin were not enough to make Ms. Humphreys the winner.
  • A record number of spoiled ballots were recorded in the election, with over 10% of the total votes being spoilt.
  • The turnout for the election was 50%, which is the lowest in recent history.

Sources:

  • [1] Antonia Langford, THE (no date provided).
  • [2] (no other source was mentioned in the article)

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