Catherine Connolly is known for her strong support for the Palestinian cause [Getty]
Ireland’s president for the next seven years is an independent lawmaker who has long spoken in support of Palestinians and has referred to Israel as a “terrorist state”.
Left-wing independent Catherine Connolly, 68, secured 63% of votes in a landslide election victory on Saturday, comfortably defeating her centre-right rival, former Cabinet minister Heather Humphreys.
The politician won after Ireland’s left-leaning opposition parties, including Sinn Féin, united to back her, and she is expected to be a voice unafraid to challenge Ireland’s centre-right government.
While Irish presidents hold a largely ceremonial role and do not have executive powers like shaping laws, they represent Ireland on the world stage and are often seen as a unifying voice on major issues. Connolly will succeed Michael D. Higgins, a popular president who has been vocal about the war in Gaza and NATO spending, among other things.
Connolly vowed Saturday to be “an inclusive president” who would champion diversity and be “a voice for peace”.
Connolly has not shied from criticising Israel over the war in Gaza.
In September she drew fire for calling Hamas “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people”. Prime Minister Micheál Martin criticised her for appearing reluctant to condemn the militant group’s actions on 7 October, 2023.
She later maintained that she “utterly condemned” Hamas’ actions, while also criticising Israel for carrying out a genocide in Gaza.
She also referred to Israel as a “terrorist state” and a “rogue state” and has sought to remind the Irish political establishment that “history didn’t begin on October 7”, pointing to the illegal Israeli occupation and settlement of the West Bank, and the almost two-decade long siege of Gaza.
