Catherine Connolly, a pro-immigration self-avowed socialist running as an independent, won Ireland’s 2025 presidential election in a landslide Friday, defeating both of the nominees of the country’s two largest parties.
Connolly, 68, pulled in a massive 63.4% of votes, dwarfing the 29.5% received by Fine Gael nominee Heather Humphreys and the 7.2% won by Fianna Fáil nominee Jim Gavin. In her victory speech, the socialist promised to be “an inclusive president” multiple times and expressed her desire to “shape a new republic … that values and champions diversity … and the new people that have come to our country.”
“I will be a president who listens and who reflects and who speaks when necessary, and a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change,” the president-elect added in her speech. “And a voice that recognizes the tremendous work being done the length and breadth of the country and we need to recognize that and ensure it is properly resourced.”
Connolly is set to take office on Nov. 11 and will succeed term-limited President Michael D. Higgins, a fellow left-wing socialist who has served since 2011.
Despite running as an independent, Connolly had the support of a litany of left-wing parties, including Sinn Féin, Labour and Social Democrats. She received the highest percentage of votes of any Irish president in the country’s history. The previous record was set in 1959 by Éamon de Valera, a key political leader during the Irish War of Independence against the U.K.
Gavin, the endorsed candidate of Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, dropped out of the race in early October following media reports of him being a poor landlord – but nevertheless remained on the ballot.
A record number of Irish voters in the election chose to “spoil” their vote or render their ballot “invalid” – as a way to protest all of the candidates in the race. Over 200,000 votes, or 13% of the total votes cast in the race, were considered “spoiled” or “invalid,” according to The Irish Times. In both the 2018 and 2011 presidential elections, just over 1% of total votes in each election were deemed invalid.
The “Spoil The Vote” campaign garnered significant traction in right-wing and anti-immigration circles, according to Raidió Teilifís Éireann.
Irish presidents can serve a maximum of two seven-year terms.
Riots on Monday erupted outside of a hotel — housing migrants seeking asylum — in the Irish capital of Dublin, after an adult migrant allegedly sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl in the area.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screen Capture/PBS NewsHour)
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