On Saturday afternoon, left-wing independent Catherine Connolly secured a landslide victory in Ireland’s presidential election after her centre-right opponent Heather Humphreys conceded defeat.
Mr Humphries congratulated Ms Connolly on her victory, saying: “Catherine will be a president for all of us, she will be a president for me. I really wish her the best.”
Votes were being counted Saturday, with early counts showing Mr. Connolly holding a significant lead in succeeding outgoing President Michael D. Higgins.
The majority of left-wing parties, including Sinn Féin, Labor and the Social Democrats, had expressed support for the left-wing front-runner, who has been an independent since 2016.
Mr Connolly, 68, has been a strong critic of both the European Union and the US, slamming the EU’s plans to increase military spending. She has also been an outspoken critic of Israel over its attack on Gaza. The former lawyer blamed government policies for the housing crisis and gained support among young voters.
Initially, three candidates were running to become the country’s 10th president. However, Prime Minister Micheál Martin’s Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin withdrew from the race, citing financial disputes dating back to 2009. Despite his withdrawal, Gavin’s name remained on the ballot.
Although Ireland’s president represents the country on the world stage, entertains visiting heads of state, and has certain constitutional powers, his role is largely ceremonial as he has no power to shape law or policy.