Left-winger Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidency - video Dailymotion

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00:00Tougher in the Uggdoran area.

00:04With a modest smile, Catherine Connolly thanks supporters and vows to unite a new republic

00:10and be an inclusive President of Ireland.

00:12I regard it as an absolute honour the vote I have been given and I will represent you

00:18nationally and internationally to the best of my ability and as professionally and as

00:24humanely as possible.

00:25A former clinical psychologist and barrister, the 68-year-old has been an outspoken advocate

00:32for leftist causes, which some suggest could complicate the diplomatic role of the President.

00:39Connolly has been criticised for her EU scepticism and stances on Israel's actions in Gaza, views

00:45that critics say are extreme.

00:47You said in the recent past you didn't trust the US.

00:51Absolutely, it was in the context of arming and resourcing the genocide in Palestine.

00:58So you think the US is dangerous?

00:59In that sense, absolutely, in that sense, absolutely.

01:04Connolly's campaign has been popular with young people who approve of her commitment

01:08to social justice and criticism of the EU s growing militarisation, using podcasts and

01:15social media, including a viral post of her showing off her nifty footwork.

01:27Connolly has united the majority of left-wing parties, including the largest opposition member

01:32Sinn Féin, which did not put forward a candidate of its own in the election, along with the

01:37Social Democrats and Labour.

01:38I want to congratulate Catherine on becoming the next President of Ireland and can I just

01:46say that Catherine will be a President for all of us and she will be my President and

01:50I really would like to wish her all the very, very best.

01:54Her election comes at a tumultuous time in the country s capital, which has seen riots

01:59this week after an alleged sexual assault involving a ten-year-old girl outside a hotel on Monday.

02:05That, along with anger over a housing crisis and the cost of living, means voters are turning

02:10to Connolly as a symbol of change.

Left-winger Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidency

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