Connolly set to be Ireland’s next president after rival concedes defeat

Catherine Connolly, a pro-Palestine, left-wing candidate, is connected people for a landslide triumph arsenic ballot counting continues.

Left-wing autarkic campaigner Catherine Connolly is acceptable to go Ireland’s adjacent president aft her rival conceded defeat.

Vote counting successful the statesmanlike predetermination was inactive nether mode connected Saturday, but Heather Humphreys of the centre-right Fine Gael enactment told reporters she “wanted to congratulate Catherine Connolly connected becoming the adjacent president of Ireland”.

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“Catherine volition beryllium a president for each of us, and she volition beryllium my president, and I truly would similar to privation her each the very, precise best,” Humphreys said.

Voting slips were being counted by manus with the last effect of Friday’s predetermination expected to beryllium declared aboriginal connected Saturday erstwhile each 43 electoral constituencies crossed the state person completed counting.

Polls had suggested accordant and beardown elector enactment for Connolly, 68, implicit her rival Humphreys, 64.

Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael person Simon Harris besides was speedy to privation Connolly “every success”, adding: “She volition beryllium President for each this country.”

“Her occurrence volition beryllium Ireland’s success,” helium posted connected X.

Vote counting astatine the RDS number centre successful Dublin, Ireland, connected October 25, 2025 [AFP]

Connolly, a erstwhile barrister and autarkic lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken successful criticising Israel implicit its war successful Gaza and has garnered the backing of a scope of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Fein, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats.

Her run was particularly fashionable among young people, who approved of her beardown pro-Palestine stance and her committedness to societal justice, among different issues.

Connolly and Humphreys were the lone contenders aft Jim Gavin, the campaigner for Prime Minister Micheal Martin’s Fianna Fail party, discontinue the contention 3 weeks earlier the predetermination implicit a long-ago fiscal dispute. Martin had backed Gavin successful the race.

While Irish presidents correspond the state connected the satellite stage, big visiting heads of authorities and play an important law role, they bash not person the powerfulness to signifier laws oregon policies.

The victor volition win Michael D Higgins, who has been president since 2011, having served the maximum 2 seven-year terms.

If confirmed, Connolly volition beryllium Ireland’s 10th president and the 3rd pistillate to clasp the post.