Ireland Has Elected This Independent Left-Wing Woman Politician As Its New President In A Landslide
Catherine Connolly has been an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights and said she will be a "voice for peace."
Ireland has elected an independent left-wing woman politician, who is outspoken against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as its new president.
68-year-old Catherine Connolly worked as a lawyer and a psychologist before pivoting to politics.
She was elected as an independent lawmaker for Galway West in the Irish Parliament in 2016, serving three terms before becoming the first woman to be the deputy speaker of parliament's lower house in 2020.
Connolly was supported by a coalition of left-wing groups, including Sinn Féin, Labour and the Social Democrats, but ran as an independent and pledged to be "an inclusive president for all."
She has been an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights, calling out Israel’s genocide in Gaza, labeling Israel a “terrorist state” and urging Ireland to push for an international arms embargo.
Connolly won in a landslide victory on Saturday, Oct. 25, with 63% of the first-preference votes, making her the country’s third woman president.
Connolly said she will be a “voice for peace” and an “inclusive president” for the people in Ireland.
She called on people to use their voice to help build “a new republic that values everybody.”
The president of Ireland is a largely symbolic position, but represents the Irish people internationally and nationally as head of state.
Cannolly’s presidential term will officially begin on Nov. 11.
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