'Extremist left winger': How Catherine Connolly's emphatic victory was covered around the world

"The world's media has been reacting to the landslide victory, some more positively than others. Daily Mail (UK) The paper led with a strikingly lengthy headline outlining its perspective on the significance of Ireland's decision, including about how the "extremist left-winger" referred to Israel as a "terrorist state" and called Palestinian militant group Hamas "part of the civil society of Palestine". The piece also said that Ms Connolly "trounced" her opponent to take the Áras."

"The Guardian (UK) The British publication described the win as a "humbling rebuke to the centre-right government" in the Dáil. Its headline was something a little more tasteful - and less spicy - than the Daily Mail, simply writing: Leftwinger Catherine Connolly wins Ireland presidential election by landslide A theme across this, and all descriptor articles of the election, is to attach the "largely ceremonial office" tag to Ms Connolly's new job."

A month-long campaign was dominated by multiple scandals, one prompting the withdrawal of Fianna Fáil nominee Jim Gavin. Left-wing independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly won a landslide and will take the Áras in mid-November with what Taoiseach Micheál Martin called a "clear mandate". Global media reactions varied, with some outlets focusing on interrogation of her past statements and others framing the result as a rebuke to the centre-right government. The Daily Mail emphasized controversial remarks labeling Israel a "terrorist state" and naming Hamas part of Palestinian civil society, while tabloids used terms like "trounced" and "landslide". Many outlets also highlighted the largely ceremonial nature of the presidency despite the scale of her victory.

Read at Irish Independent