Left-Wing Candidate Connolly Poised for Landslide Victory in Irish Presidential Race

Catherine Connolly, a veteran lawmaker and one of the most left-wing figures in Irish politics, was set for a decisive victory in Saturday’s presidential election, as members of the governing parties privately conceded a heavy defeat.

Connolly, 68, is an independent candidate backed by the left-leaning opposition and is expected to secure more than twice as many votes as her nearest rival, according to a governing party official citing partial vote tallies.

John Carroll, general secretary of Fine Gael, told national broadcaster RTÉ that the data indicated Connolly would win over 60% of the vote, while his party’s candidate — former cabinet minister Heather Humphreys — was likely to remain around 20%.

James Lawless, Minister for Higher Education and a member of Fianna Fáil, the other main governing party, said, “It appears that Catherine Connolly will be elected, and as a government we will now move forward to work constructively with her.”

The final result is expected to be announced later on Saturday.

Longtime Critic of the EU and the US

In a country where support for the European Union runs deep, Connolly has long stood out as a sharp critic. She has repeatedly denounced the EU’s plans to boost military spending and, at the start of the campaign, was far from a household name for this largely ceremonial office.

Some of her positions — from questioning the reliability of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France over the war in Gaza, to comparing Germany’s rearmament costs to the 1930s — contrast sharply with those of many of her allies and with the outspoken but broadly centrist incumbent, Michael D. Higgins.

Ireland’s president serves mostly as a symbolic head of state, with limited constitutional powers that are rarely used to review legislation, but the role carries a strong moral and diplomatic voice on the global stage.

A former clinical psychologist and barrister, Connolly first entered parliament in 2016 and later served as deputy speaker of the lower house. Throughout her campaign, she gained traction — especially among younger voters — by sharply criticizing government policy on housing and social welfare.

Her rise was also aided by the governing coalition’s troubled campaign. Fine Gael’s first-choice candidate withdrew due to illness, forcing a hurried nomination of Humphreys, while Fianna Fáil’s pick, former Gaelic football coach Jim Gavin, dropped out early after becoming embroiled in a financial scandal.