Ireland Elects Left-Wing President Catherine Connolly in Landslide Victory

Catherine Connolly Wins Irish Presidency with 64% of Vote

Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, 68, has won Ireland's presidential election by a landslide, securing approximately 64% of the votes based on projections after two-thirds of ballots were counted. Her main rival, Heather Humphreys, 62, a former minister and candidate for the center-right Fine Gael party, conceded defeat on Saturday, wishing Connolly "all the best" for her term.

Jim Gavin, the Fianna Fáil candidate who withdrew from the race before election day, still garnered 7% of the vote. Voter turnout was notably low at just 40% of the 3.6 million electorate, with about 13% of ballots spoiled—a historic high interpreted as a sign of frustration with the available political options.

A Strong Rejection of Center-Right Government

Connolly's victory is seen as a strong response to the center-right government led by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, amid ongoing crises in housing, rising living costs, and weariness with traditional parties. "I want to thank everyone—including those who did not vote for me. I understand the concerns and want to be a President for all Irish people," Connolly stated after the results were known.

Background and Campaign Focus

A former clinical psychologist and lawyer, Catherine Connolly built her campaign around social justice, defending Irish neutrality, and criticizing European and Western militarism. Initially viewed as an outsider, she mobilized young voters through social media and gained support from Irish cultural figures like musicians Kneecap and The Mary Wallopers.

Her candidacy ultimately united an unprecedented alliance of left-wing parties, including Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Greens, and People Before Profit.

Upcoming Inauguration and Potential Tensions

Catherine Connolly will succeed current head of state Michael D. Higgins and is set to be inaugurated on November 11 for a seven-year term. While she has pledged to respect the constitutional limits of the presidency, analysts predict possible tensions with the government due to her more assertive and critical political stances.

For instance, The Guardian and Politico report that Connolly has been openly critical of NATO, the European Union, and European militarization plans, comparing increased military spending in Germany to Nazi militarization in the 1930s. She has also defended Hamas's right to a future role in a Palestinian state, drawing criticism from the Irish government, including Prime Minister Micheál Martin.

Controversies and Diplomatic Concerns

During the campaign, Connolly faced criticism for visiting areas controlled by Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria but rejected accusations of pro-regime propaganda, calling them "guilt by association."

Veteran Irish diplomats warn that as president, Connolly could create confusion about Ireland's official stance internationally due to her critical views on the EU, NATO, and Western militarism. Bobby McDonagh, former Irish ambassador to the UK and EU, described statements like the comparison of German military spending to the Nazi era as "absurd" and potentially damaging to Ireland's reputation and interests abroad.