Khaberni - Preliminary results indicate that leftist candidate for the presidency of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, is sweeping ahead of her only competitor, former minister Heather Humphreys.
Reuters reported that Connolly, the veteran MP from the far-left, is leading by a substantial margin "at a time when members of the ruling parties acknowledged that they would face a heavy defeat".
General Secretary of the Fine Gael party, John Carol, said that data indicates Connolly will win more than 60% of the votes.
Polling stations had closed earlier today, Saturday, in the presidential elections in Ireland, with indications that the turnout was close to the rate recorded in the last elections held in 2018.
The two competing candidates for the next president of Ireland cast their votes shortly after the polling stations opened across the country at 7 a.m.
Ceremonial Position
The final result is likely to be announced later today, Saturday.
It is worth mentioning that Connolly is a clinical psychologist and a former lawyer who held the position of Deputy Speaker of the Irish House of Representatives after being first elected in 2016.
Her popularity increased throughout the campaign, as her critiques of the government's policies in areas such as housing were widely accepted.
The position of President of Ireland is largely ceremonial, and rarely uses its powers to test the constitutionality of legislation, but often speaks on the global stage and receives heads of state from other countries in the country.
