Ireland’s Catherine Connolly set to be president after rival concedes

Irish voters looked set to have elected left-winger Catherine Connolly to be the country’s new president, after her only rival conceded defeat on Saturday in a contest marred by unprecedented spoiled voting and low turnout.

After hours of counting following Friday’s ballot, Connolly, an independent, was on course for a landslide victory, prompting the centrist Fine Gael party’s candidate Heather Humphreys to congratulate her on “becoming the next president of Ireland”.

But the apparent win by 68-year-old Connolly was marred by a record number of spoiled ballots and other voters failing to turn up, amid frustration at the lack of right-wing options and issues including immigration and crime.

A lawyer and outspoken critic of both the United States and European Union, Connolly’s election to a post with limited political power could nonetheless herald an era of increased friction between Ireland’s largely ceremonial presidency and government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was quick to wish Connolly “every success”, adding “she will be President for all this country”.

“Her success will be Ireland’s success,” he posted on social media.