Early tallies suggest Catherine Connolly is leading candidate in Ireland’s presidential election
Votes were being counted in the Irish presidential election on Saturday, with initial calculations showing left-wing independent Catherine Connolly with a significant lead.
Voters were choosing between Connolly and centre-right Heather Humphreys as the new president, a largely ceremonial role in the European Union member state.
Two women became the sole candidates after Jim Gavin, the candidate of Prime Minister Micheál Martin’s Fianna Fail party, dropped out of the race three weeks before the election due to a long-ago financial dispute.
Martin, who heads the Irish government, had personally supported Gavin as a presidential candidate. Although Gavin left the campaign, his name remains on the ballot due to his late withdrawal from the race.
Although Irish presidents represent the country on the world stage, host visiting heads of state and play an important constitutional role, they have no power to shape laws or policies.
Leading Connolly has the support of a number of left-leaning parties, including Sinn Féin, Labor and the Social Democrats.
The 68-year-old former lawyer, who has been an independent MP since 2016, has openly criticized Israel for the war in Gaza.
Polls show strong voter support for Humphreys, his 64-year-old rival from the centre-right party Fine Gael.
The former cabinet minister stressed that he was a centre-forward, pro-business, pro-EU candidate who would strive for unity.
Others, including musician Bob Geldof and former mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, have said they wanted to run for president but did not receive enough support to run.
The winner will replace Michael D. Higgins, who has been president since 2011 and has served a maximum of two seven-year terms. Connolly or Humphreys would be Ireland’s 10th president and the third woman to hold the post.
Ballot ballots started to be counted by hand. The final result will be announced on Saturday after all 43 constituencies across the country have completed counting.
