Ireland presidential election: Left-leaning unbiased Catherine Connolly wins

Left-wing unbiased Catherine Connolly, who secured the backing of Ireland’s left-leaning events, together with Sinn Féin, has gained the nation’s presidential election in a landslide victory in opposition to her centre-right rival.

Official outcomes confirmed robust voter assist for Connolly as president, a largely ceremonial position in Ireland.

Her rival Heather Humphreys, of the centre-right occasion Fine Gael, conceded she had misplaced earlier Saturday (October 25, 2025) earlier than vote counting had completed.

“Catherine will likely be a president for all of us and she or he will likely be my president, and I actually wish to want her all of the very, best,” she informed reporters.

Ms. Connolly, a former barrister who has served as a lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticising Israel over the struggle in Gaza. She has additionally warned in opposition to the European Union’s rising “militarisation” following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ireland has a convention of navy neutrality, however her critics have stated she dangers alienating the nation’s allies.

Ms. Connolly will succeed Michael D Higgins, who has been president since 2011, having served the utmost two seven-year phrases. She will likely be Ireland’s tenth president and the third girl to carry the publish.

The politician has garnered the backing of a variety of left-leaning events, together with Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats.

PM congratulates Connolly

Prime Minister Micheál Martin on Saturday congratulated Ms. Connolly on her “very complete election victory,” adding, “It is clear she will be the next president of Ireland.”

Mr. Martin stated he was wanting ahead to working with the brand new president as “Ireland continues to play a major position on the worldwide stage, and as we stay up for internet hosting the EU presidency within the second half of 2026.”

Initial and incomplete outcomes present Ms. Connolly taking greater than 60% of votes.

Ms. Connolly and Humphreys had been the one contenders after Jim Gavin, the candidate for Martin’s Fianna Fail occasion, give up the race three weeks earlier than the election over a long-ago monetary dispute.

Mr. Martin, who heads Ireland’s authorities, had personally backed Mr. Gavin as a presidential candidate. Though Mr. Gavin had stopped campaigning, his identify remained on the poll paper due to his late withdrawal from the race.

The electoral fee stated Saturday that there was a “considerably increased than regular” variety of spoiled ballots, and that there’ll “clearly be a necessity for deeper and additional reflection” about voter dissatisfaction.

Simon Harris, the deputy premier, stated the spoiled ballots confirmed “the variety of individuals in Ireland now who’re clearly feeling disaffected or disconnected with politics.” He stated officers will likely be taking a look at the potential for altering the edge wanted to safe a nomination in future presidential elections.

While Irish presidents signify the nation on the world stage, host visiting heads of state and play an necessary constitutional position, they don’t have the ability to form legal guidelines or insurance policies.

Nonetheless, events on the left celebrated the outcomes as a major shift in Irish politics.

“We have seen an actual urge for food for the change that Catherine represents,” said Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik. “We believe this really does mean a new sort of politics is possible, that we can now realise the ambition that I talked about a year ago: The real prospect of a centre-left-led government after the next general election.”

Others — together with musician Bob Geldof and the previous combined martial arts champion Conor McGregor — had indicated they wished to run for president however did not obtain sufficient backing for a nomination.