Connolly sweeps to Irish presidential election win

Catherine Connolly, an independent candidate who backs a poll on unification between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, has been named as the republic's 10th president after winning a landslide victory in the presidential election.

The 68-year-old has been a member of Ireland's parliament since 2016 and will serve a seven-year term of office as the country's head of state, which means representing Ireland abroad and having a central role in national events. The president's direct political powers are limited, but their influence can be significant.

Although she stood as an independent candidate, Connolly was backed by the major left-wing parties. Of the country's two largest parties, the center-right Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin withdrew from the race, but with his name still on the ballot paper, won 7 percent of votes. That left just Heather Humphreys of the liberal-conservative Fine Gael party running against Connolly, and she won just 29 percent of first preference votes, compared to Connolly's record total of 63 percent.

In an acceptance speech made first in the Irish language and then in English, Connolly promised to be "a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it's necessary".

"I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change, and a voice that recognizes the tremendous work being done the length and breadth of the country," she said.

Taoiseach — as the prime minister is known in Ireland — Micheal Martin, who represents Fianna Fail, said an "outstanding honor" had been bestowed upon Connolly by the electorate.

Sinn Fein, the main opposition party in the Irish parliament which for many years was linked to the Republican movement in Northern Ireland, decided not to field a candidate and instead backed Connolly.

"It is a victory for the combined opposition over the jaded worn-out politics of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael," said Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald, who added that her party had been "a significant element" of the winning campaign.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill, who also represents Sinn Fein, said Connolly's victory marked the start of "an era of hope".

"This election has shown what can be achieved when parties committed to change and progress work together in common purpose," she said. "That is the clear pathway to a better, united future."

Despite her margin of victory, backing for Connolly was not overwhelming. The Irish Independent newspaper reported that in excess of 213,000 spoiled votes were cast, more than 10 times the number in the previous presidential election, as a sign of widespread voter apathy and dissatisfaction with any of the candidates on offer.

Stephen Murphy, Ireland correspondent for Sky News, said voters who were used to having six or seven candidates to choose from, representing a range of views, were angry at having just two, and called the "lackluster" vote "possibly the least enthusiastic presidential contest in Irish history".