Left-leaning Connolly set to be next Irish Prez as rival concedes defeat

Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly is set to become Ireland's next president after her rival conceded defeat in the country's presidential election on

Saturday.

Vote counting was still underway but ahead of the official result being declared, Heather Humphreys, of the centre-right party Fine Gael, told reporters that she “wanted to congratulate Catherine Connolly on becoming the next president of Ireland”.

“Catherine will be a president for all of us and she will be my president, and I really would like to wish her all the very, very best,” she said. Polls have suggested consistent and strong voter support for Connolly, 68, over Humphreys, 64, for president, a largely ceremonial role in Ireland.

Connolly, a former barrister, and an independent lawmaker since 2016, has been outspoken in criticising Israel over the war in Gaza.

The politician has garnered the backing of a range of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and the Social Democrats. Others, including deputy premier Simon Harris, who leads Humphreys' Fine Gael

party, and the Social Democrats also congratulated Connolly.

“From day one, her message of inclusion, equality and social justice resonated with voters in every corner of Ireland," said Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. Initial and incomplete results show Connolly taking more than 60 per cent of votes.