Kathryn Connolly, the independent candidate backed by the left, won a landslide victory in the presidential elections which were conducted in Ireland.
The candidate from the Left got 63.4%, according to the official results in the Irish elections announced on the evening of Saturday 25 October.
Centrist challenger Heather Humphreys received just 29.5% and Connolly will take over the presidency, succeeding Michael Higgins who has held the position since 2011.
“I will be the president who listens, who responds and who speaks when necessary. Together we can create a new democracy that appreciates the value of everyone,” she said in her speech after the announcement of the results.
The presidency of Ireland is a mainly honorary office and the president rarely uses his powers to review the constitutionality of laws, but he often speaks on the international stage and welcomes other heads of state.