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Irish presidential election: Michael D Higgins ahead | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Unofficial tallies from count centres in the Irish presidential election have suggested veteran politician Michael D Higgins is well in front. | |
It is thought Mr Higgins has received about 40% of the first preference vote. | |
Sean Gallagher is on about 28%, while Martin McGuinness is thought to be on about 15%. | |
Counting of the votes began on Friday morning. Turnout is reported to be about 50%, down from around 70% in the general election in February. | |
There are seven candidates in the race to succeed Mary McAleese, who has been president since 1997. | There are seven candidates in the race to succeed Mary McAleese, who has been president since 1997. |
The president, who serves as a ceremonial head of state, is elected for a seven-year term and can be re-elected only once. | The president, who serves as a ceremonial head of state, is elected for a seven-year term and can be re-elected only once. |
After a controversial campaign, with the polls swinging one way and then the other, the climax looks like it will be more straightforward than most commentators had predicted. | |
Faced with a record seven candidates, the tallies suggest that the electorate has plumped decisively for Labour's Michael D Higgins. | |
A poet and a scholar, the 71-year-old former government minister ran a solid campaign during which he was always among the bookies' favourites. | |
The result will be announced at Dublin Castle, the venue for the historic state banquet for the Queen in May. | |
It now looks just a matter of hours before Mr Higgins' coronation. | |
Candidates | |
The seven candidates are Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell, Michael D Higgins of the Labour Party, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness as well as independents Sean Gallagher, Dana Rosemary Scallon, Mary Davis and David Norris. | The seven candidates are Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell, Michael D Higgins of the Labour Party, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness as well as independents Sean Gallagher, Dana Rosemary Scallon, Mary Davis and David Norris. |
The Irish opposition leader Micheál Martin of Fianna Fail has already 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. | |
Fianna Fail chose not to enter a candidate following the party's heavy defeat in the general election. | |
Counting began at 09:00 BST on Friday and the winner is expected to be announced on Saturday afternoon. | Counting began at 09:00 BST on Friday and the winner is expected to be announced on Saturday afternoon. |
The first national count will be announced once results from all 43 constituencies are in, which is expected to be early on Friday evening. | The first national count will be announced once results from all 43 constituencies are in, which is expected to be early on Friday evening. |
The presidential returning officer will have to decide whether to continue into the early hours to get a final result or to adjourn until Saturday morning. | The presidential returning officer will have to decide whether to continue into the early hours to get a final result or to adjourn until Saturday morning. |
The campaign for the presidency has been beset by controversy with several of the candidates coming under pressure over their past careers. | The campaign for the presidency has been beset by controversy with several of the candidates coming under pressure over their past careers. |
The election arrives as the country continues its bid to recover from the worst recession in living memory. | The election arrives as the country continues its bid to recover from the worst recession in living memory. |