Voters head to the polls to decide new Irish president • FRANCE 24 English

Voters head to the polls to decide new Irish president • FRANCE 24 English

Irish voters are selecting not the person who will govern, but the person who will represent the spirit of the nation. On one side is Katherine Connelly, an independent with the backing of a coalition of left-wing parties, including the main opposition, Shinfane. She’s long been an outspoken advocate for leftist causes, which some critics suggest could complicate the diplomatic role of the president. You said in the recent past, you didn’t trust the US. I absolutely it was in the context of arming and resourcing the genocide in Palestine. The genocide saying the US is dangerous. In that sense, absolutely. In that sense, absolutely. Connelly is up against government candidate Heather Humphre. During the campaign, Humphre has been forced to defend her part in government policies. But as a Protestant from a region on the border with Northern Ireland, she’s cast herself as a unifying figure. the amount of sectarian abuse that has been out there in terms of about my religion and my traditions and where I come from. And I can tell you where I come from. I come from a minority community in County Manhattan. And I’m a very proud Republican. Opinion polls suggest Connelly has a commanding lead over Humphre. But even days before the election, a large proportion of voters said they were undecided. Whichever candidate wins, she’ll have a hard act to follow. Outgoing President Michael D. Higgins, who served 14 years in the office, is a widely beloved figure. He spent his presidency speaking out on humanitarian issues, sometimes pushing the boundaries of what an Irish president is traditionally allowed to

Voters across the Republic of Ireland are casting their ballots to elect the country’s next president, who will succeed current head of state Michael D. Higgins as Ireland’s 10th president. Although Jim Gavin has withdrawn from the race, his name remains on the ballot alongside the two remaining contenders, Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys. Siobhan Silke has this story.
#Ireland #Irishpresident #elections

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