Eire’s president for the subsequent seven years is an unbiased lawmaker who has lengthy spoken in assist of Palestinians and has been vocal about her mistrust of European Union insurance policies.
Left-wing unbiased Catherine Connolly, 68, secured 63% of votes in a landslide election victory on Saturday, comfortably defeating her center-right rival, former Cupboard minister Heather Humphreys.
The politician gained after Eire’s left-leaning opposition events, together with Sinn Féin, united to again her, and he or she is predicted to be a voice unafraid to problem Eire’s center-right authorities.
Whereas Irish presidents maintain a largely ceremonial function and shouldn’t have government powers like shaping legal guidelines, they signify Eire on the world stage and are sometimes seen as a unifying voice on main points. Connolly will succeed Michael D. Higgins, a preferred president who has been vocal in regards to the struggle in Gaza and NATO spending, amongst different issues.
Connolly vowed Saturday to be “an inclusive president” who would champion variety and be “a voice for peace.”
A have a look at Connolly’s background and views:
From unbiased lawmaker to president
Connolly, a mom to 2 sons, has served three phrases as an unbiased lawmaker for Galway West since she was elected to Parliament in 2016. In 2020 she turned the primary girl to be the deputy speaker of Parliament’s decrease home.
She grew up in social housing in a suburb of Galway in western Eire as one in all 14 kids. Her mom died when she was 9 years previous, and her father labored at a neighborhood shipyard. As a scholar, she volunteered with a Catholic group to assist older folks and took on different neighborhood roles.
She has levels in scientific psychology and regulation, and was a lawyer earlier than she entered politics.
Connolly started her political profession when she was elected as a Labour Celebration member of Galway Metropolis Council in 1999. 5 years later, she was elected mayor of town of Galway. She left Labour in 2007.
Outspoken views towards Israel and the EU
Connolly has not shied from criticizing Israel over the struggle in Gaza.
In September she drew hearth for calling Hamas “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people.” Prime Minister Micheál Martin criticized her for showing reluctant to sentence the militant group’s actions within the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel that ignited the two-year Israel-Hamas struggle in Gaza.
She later maintained that she “utterly condemned” Hamas’ actions, whereas additionally criticizing Israel for finishing up what she referred to as a genocide in Gaza.
On Europe, she has repeatedly criticized the European Union for its rising “militarization” following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drawn comparisons with Nazi-era armament within the Thirties, and questioned NATO growth within the east. Critics have mentioned these feedback, together with others essential of the U.S. and U.Ok., danger alienating Eire’s allies.
Connolly has additionally confused she desires to defend Eire’s custom of army neutrality, within the face of requires the nation to contribute extra to European protection. Throughout her marketing campaign, she mentioned there ought to be a referendum on a authorities plan to take away the “triple lock” — the circumstances for the deployment of Irish troopers on worldwide missions.
Connolly’s outspoken type and message of social equality and inclusivity have appealed to many, particularly youthful voters. In televised presidential debates, she has mentioned she’s going to respect the boundaries of the workplace — although she additionally mentioned in her acceptance speech that she would communicate “when it’s necessary” as president.
“Together, we can shape a new republic that values everybody, that values and champions diversity and that takes confidence in our own identity, our Irish language, our English language, and new people who have come to our country,” she mentioned Saturday at Dublin Fort.
