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Irish presidential election: Michael D Higgins set to win | Irish presidential election: Michael D Higgins set to win |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The Labour Party's Michael D Higgins is to become the ninth Irish president after one of the most remarkable comebacks in the state's history. | |
The poet and campaigner received 701,101 first-preference votes - almost 40% of the total. | |
His victory over one-time favourite Sean Gallagher was evident within an hour of the ballot boxes being opened. | |
Counting is due to resume shortly, however the other candidates admitted defeat on Friday night. | |
Mr Higgins seized an unprecedented swing in support earlier this week after his biggest rival, independent candidate Mr Gallagher, was publicly derailed by Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness on live television. | |
Mr Gallagher, the opinion poll topper with a 15-point margin as recently as Sunday, saw his support vanish to 28% in a stunning defeat blamed on his links to Fianna Fail, the party most associated with Ireland's economic demise. | |
Speaking on Friday night, the Irish president in waiting, Mr Higgins, 70, said his triumph was built on a left-leaning campaign while his seven-year term would be marked by inclusion, ideas and transformation. | |
"I'm very, very happy. It is something I prepared for, something I thought about for a long while," he said. | |
"I am very glad as well that it is a presidency built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everybody to be part of and proud of." | |
In the end the Irish people decided they had had enough of living dangerously. | In the end the Irish people decided they had had enough of living dangerously. |
After three years of political and financial turmoil, they chose the archetypal safe pair of hands - modest Michael D Higgins - to be their president. | After three years of political and financial turmoil, they chose the archetypal safe pair of hands - modest Michael D Higgins - to be their president. |
They were not ready for ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness, and not convinced by former Dragon's Den star Sean Gallagher. | They were not ready for ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness, and not convinced by former Dragon's Den star Sean Gallagher. |
They were deemed too risky. In Higgins, they trusted. | They were deemed too risky. In Higgins, they trusted. |
As one voter put it: "Michael is a statesman. His idea of danger is having an After Eight at 7.45." | As one voter put it: "Michael is a statesman. His idea of danger is having an After Eight at 7.45." |
Mr Higgins will be inaugurated on Armistice Day, 11 November, the day after current president Mary McAleese leaves office. | |
Mr Gallagher received 504,964 first-preference votes, while Mr McGuinness, Sinn Fein, came in third with 243,030 votes. | |
Independents Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis were eliminated on the first count. | |
Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell and the independent David Norris are battling for fourth place with 113,321 votes and 109,469 votes respectively. | |
Dana Rosemary Scallon received 51,220 votes and Mary Davis 48,657 votes. The quota Mr Higgins has to reach is 885,882 votes. | |
He was an Irish MP for almost 25 years until he retired from the Dail earlier this year. He was Ireland's minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht during the 1990s. | |
The president, who serves as a ceremonial head of state, is elected for a seven-year term and can be re-elected only once. | |
Support | |
Mr Gallagher, a former member and fund-raiser for the Fianna Fail party, called the veteran politician to congratulate him on his success. | |
In a statement, Mr Gallagher said: "He will have my full support as president and I sincerely thank him for a positive campaign. | |
"His slogan stated that he would be a president to be proud of and I believe he will be that president." | |
Mr McGuinness also phoned Mr Higgins to offer his congratulations. | Mr McGuinness also phoned Mr Higgins to offer his congratulations. |
"He will make a fine president and I wish him well for his seven years in the Aras (presidential home)," he said. | |
"I am delighted with the strong vote I have received. My message of positive leadership, patriotism and commitment clearly was resonating with tens of thousands of ordinary Irish people." | "I am delighted with the strong vote I have received. My message of positive leadership, patriotism and commitment clearly was resonating with tens of thousands of ordinary Irish people." |
Other candidates in the election have also congratulated Mr Higgins. | Other candidates in the election have also congratulated Mr Higgins. |
Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell said he would make "an excellent president," while Dana Rosemary Scallon wished him a "happy and successful" time in office. | Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell said he would make "an excellent president," while Dana Rosemary Scallon wished him a "happy and successful" time in office. |
Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), Eamon Gilmore, congratulated his party colleague on his victory. | Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), Eamon Gilmore, congratulated his party colleague on his victory. |
Mr Gilmore admitted it had looked like Mr Gallagher was poised for victory, until a televised debate on RTE earlier this week. | Mr Gilmore admitted it had looked like Mr Gallagher was poised for victory, until a televised debate on RTE earlier this week. |
He was forced to deny claims by Mr McGuinness that he had raised money for the Fianna Fail party when it was in government in 2008. | |
"That certainly made a big impact, but I think it was Sean Gallagher's response to the questions he was asked," added Mr Gilmore. | "That certainly made a big impact, but I think it was Sean Gallagher's response to the questions he was asked," added Mr Gilmore. |
"I think there was a cumulative effect, which saw Sean Gallagher's vote dropping and going to Michael D Higgins." | "I think there was a cumulative effect, which saw Sean Gallagher's vote dropping and going to Michael D Higgins." |
The Irish opposition leader Micheal Martin of Fianna Fail also sent his congratulations to Mr Higgins. | The Irish opposition leader Micheal Martin of Fianna Fail also sent his congratulations to Mr Higgins. |
"I have known Michael D Higgins for many years and he will make an excellent president and ambassador for Ireland," he said. | "I have known Michael D Higgins for many years and he will make an excellent president and ambassador for Ireland," he said. |
Fianna Fail chose not to enter a candidate following the party's heavy defeat in the general election. | Fianna Fail chose not to enter a candidate following the party's heavy defeat in the general election. |