Ireland began voting to elect a new president, with Catherine Connolly, an experienced far-left lawmaker, seen as the clear favorite. At 68, Connolly is an independent candidate known for her criticisms of the European Union, especially against plans to increase military spending. She has a substantial lead over the government-supported candidate, Heather Humphreys, which could signal trouble for the ruling center-right coalition and help unite the divided left-wing opposition, led by Sinn Fein.
Initially underestimated, Connolly’s popularity surged as she gained a 15 to 18 point lead in recent polls. Her strong support for Palestine and critiques of government policies, particularly regarding housing, resonated with younger voters. Connolly’s rise was also aided by the poor campaign performances of the two governing parties. Humphreys was a last-minute candidate, and another candidate, Jim Gavin, withdrew his bid early due to a scandal.
A recent poll indicated that nearly half of voters felt unrepresented by the candidates. Connolly’s views on several issues, including criticism of the U. S. and comparisons of Germany’s military spending to the 1930s, align more with the far-left than with the mainstream parties. Despite criticisms of her past activities, including a controversial trip to Syria, Connolly remains a prominent figure. Vote counting starts Saturday morning, with results expected later that day.
With information from Reuters