Global Message of Left’s Victory in Ireland: Why Catherine Connolly Won the Election
Mehr News Agency, International Desk, Hassan Shokouhi Nesab: On October 24, Catherine Connolly won the Irish presidential election with 63.4 percent of the vote, defeating her center-right Fine Gael opponent Heather Humphreys who received 29 percent. This decisive victory made Connolly Ireland’s tenth president since gaining independence from Britain. Known for her critical stance toward NATO, the European Union, and the Israeli regime, her election has raised serious concerns among Ireland’s Western allies.
It is important to note that the presidency in Ireland is largely ceremonial; while serving as a global representative and welcoming other leaders on official visits, it does not have direct authority over legislation or policymaking.
Nonetheless, recent presidents have transformed this symbolic role into an influential position capable of shaping public discourse and Ireland’s international standing. Observers see Connolly’s triumph as reflecting deep social dissatisfaction and a widespread desire for change in both domestic and foreign policies.
Why did Irish voters choose Connolly and lean left?
Catherine Connolly’s win in the 2025 presidential election mirrors widespread problems at home and frustration with traditional governments. The soaring cost of housing remains one of citizens’ most pressing concerns: from 2015 to late 2024, property prices surged by approximately 91 percent, rents climbed by 78 percent, while overall inflation was just 22 percent. In Q2 2025 alone, property prices rose by an annual rate of 12.3 percent-the highest increase seen in a decade-with average monthly rent exceeding €2390 in Dublin.
The housing crisis goes beyond shortages for buyers or renters: as of September 2024 approximately 14,760 people were living in emergency accommodation-including over 4,500 children.Homelessness among families has increased nearly fourfold over ten years; adult homeless households have tripled within that time frame. These conditions are driving young skilled workers out of the country while vital educators and healthcare workers struggle to find suitable housing.
Alongside housing woes are rising living costs creating severe economic pressure on households due to inflation affecting energy prices, food expenses,and transportation costs over recent years-many families can no longer afford everyday necessities. The government’s failure to implement sufficient support policies for vulnerable groups such as seniors,w low-income families,and chronically ill patients has deepened public discontent.
Migratory outflows combined with security issues also influenced voter trends toward connolly’s platform.Largely younger segments seek leadership capable both of expanding welfare policiesand adopting independent,reformist positions on domesticandforeign fronts.Concerns about social stability coupledwith fatigue regarding ineffective traditional partieshave boosted popularityof independentandleft-leaning candidates.
A former parliament member,Catherine Connolly attracted urban youthby focusingonhousingcrisis,costofliving,andwelfare reforms.Her advocac yfor social justice,increased access topublic services,and criticismofright-centregovernmentcoalitions was decisive.This highlightsthatthe constellationofinternalchallenges-notjusthousing-contributedtoexpanding popular supportforshift s totheleftandus electingConnoly .
Connolly’s foreign policy: From solidarity with Palestine to distancing from NATO & EU military policies
Catherine Connolly’s foreign policy views are often labeled “anti-Western.” She criticizes NATO expansion,the rising defense budgetswithin EU states,the general militarization across Europe,and argues thatIreland’s neutrality faces growing threats.she contends that peaceinIrelandris ks being underminedby what she terms Europe’s”war-industry complex.”Duringher inauguration speech,she stressedthe urgent needtohalt wars characterized bya genocidal scale.the se statementshave sparkedconcern amongIreland ‘sWesternpartners .
1 . SolidaritywithPalestineanddenouncingIsraeli genocide
On May28 ,2024 ,Ireland officially recognizedthe stateofPalestine alongwith Norwayand Spain.Ireland ‘sgovernmentaffirmed this recognition basedon respective1967 borders.
Latein2024 ,Ireland announced ita pp rovaltonjoining South Africa ‘s gaza genocide caseagainstIsrael attheInternational CourtofJustice.Diplomatic ties betweenIreland anda Palestinian governmentwer e formalizedseptember29 ,2 024 throughan exchangeofdiplomatic notes.
ManyIrish identify stronglywith Palestiniansas victimsofd erst colonialism.Polls regularly showhighpublic resonancewithe plightofthe palestinians.CatherineConnoll y is aquite outspoken criticoft he Israeli regimeanded war inaGaza,s he callsforsolidarity w ith Palestinians.InApril20 25 sie challenged membersoft heIrish Parliament:”I challenge all o f us t o standup aandstop th eg enocidethatoccursintheirname,b ecausewearecomplicit.”InJulyshe labeledIsrael”a genocidal state.”
2 . critiqueo fNAT OmilitarismandincreasingEU defen sebudgets with emphasis on global peace
In20 25,Ireland presidentstated,”We definitelycanttrust countrieslikeUSA , UK,a nd france,becauset heyare deeplyinvolvedina bloody armsindustrycreatingwar throughoutt heworld.”She linkedGermany ‘sincreaseddefense spendingtoa “military-industrial complex”andan red flag likeningittothe1930 sd rearmament undert h e Nazi regime.
C on n olly argue dthat under Ursula von der Leyen leadership,theEUhas become progressivelymilitarizedlosingits post-WorldWarII mission-a proj ectinitiallyaim edtopromotean dmaintainpeace.
Shed enouncedEuropeanm ilitarizationpostUkraineWar,makingcomparisons t o nazi-eraarmaments,int erroga tingNATO’se astward exp ansion.She calledRussia ‘san illegalunacceptable aggressorwho mustimmedi ately endi ts horrificassault’.Yet simultaneousl ys heincludedcriticismoffNATO regarding its’detestable role’ i npromotings omeconfrontationsanda rmss trugg les .
3.C onn olly SupportsNorthern I relandar unification & potential referendum plan
K ath erin egLikemanyIrishmenandsupportsnorthern ireland (which remainsunderdirectLondon rule) reunificationwithe Republico Ir elan d.Hercampaign resonatedgreatlyw ithyoungvoterswhosupportedherclaimthatunion w i thnorthernireland isa ‘definitive outcome.’ She maintainsthat suchunityshouldbe achieved peacefullyandin strictcompliancewi th1998 Good FridayAgreem entterms.
Lately NorthernI relands political developments including Micheál O’Neillchosen February20
24 asfirst nationalist firstministe rrein forceenhancethe likelihoodofa reun ifica tionreferendumincreasingimportanceoffurther supp ortfromCon nol ly fort hiscause.
The final word
C ath er ine Co nn oly ‘s presidentialvictorymarksa profound shiftwithinthisEuropeannation ‘spolitical landscape.This outcomereflectsunhappiness wit htraditionalparties,a demandforpolicychangesfrominsideout,andavotingtrendtowardindepend entmovements.Moreover,this resulthighlightsh ertargetsonhousingcrisi san dlivingcost increasesalongwi thwellfarepoliciescombinedwithexpressedpositionsonsolidarity wi th Palestinecriticisms alsowar-militaristic aspects o f NATOandeuropean union alliancese cur majorityint hemassesc ommunity authoritiesmanagedewclaisemeritsof åhprehensiveadoptionoredomanhong sth nthensedfolk.aflrkennielavorable provisiolttleffectsimplementationopptincommegrativener periodsupportunionircound ilinks w gh.out theirgeneralknowlesalsofo.
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