Ireland's outspoken new president may push boundaries on Gaza

 

Palestine supporters hope Catherine Connolly will leverage her platform to hold Israel accountable

Here’s something I’d never seen before: Palestinians on social media enthusiastically celebrating the result of an Irish presidential election.

Yet that’s exactly what happened over the weekend when Catherine Connolly, an independent parliamentarian and devoted supporter of Palestine, stormed to victory with a thumping majority.

More than two years into Israel’s genocide, with the Israeli army continuing to kill Palestinians despite the ceasefire with Hamas, it’s unsurprising that Gaza loomed large during the campaign in a country notable for pro-Palestine sympathies.

As Connolly’s win became clear on Saturday, supporters of Palestine around the world expressed hope that the softly spoken, yet fiercely articulate, 68-year-old would leverage her new platform to make herself heard on the international stage.

Sadly, it won’t be quite that simple.

Ireland is a parliamentary republic, and the presidency is a largely ceremonial position without political power. In fact, presidents are expected not to be outspoken and never to undermine the government of the day. Essentially, they are supposed to play nice.

That model, though, was somewhat upended when Mary Robinson became president in 1990 as the first woman and youngest-ever holder of the office. Up to that point, the presidency was considered a job for the boys; a cushy retirement gig for loyal servants to Ireland’s biggest political party, Fianna Fail. Press some flesh, play a little golf, head off on jollies around the world, and live in a nice big house.  (more...)

Ireland's outspoken new president may push boundaries on Gaza