Congratulations to Michael D.
Michael D. Higgins has won the race to be the next President of Ireland, with 40% of the 1st preference votes and a majority of 61.6% after the 4th count. With a disappointing 56% turn-out, the Irish Labour Party candidate beat a late challenge by entrepreneur Sean Gallagher, standing as an independent. Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness came a distant third.
Once again the Irish system has shown itself to be remarkably robust. Despite the country's ongoing debt issues, the country pulled together behind Michael D. Ireland's public broadcaster, RTE, has his acceptance speech here. Michael D. resigned his membership of the Labour Party during this speech, arguing the Irish presidency is independent.
Radio New Zealand reports that Michael D. visited New Zealand during the 1990s. From memory, this was during a debate over the establishment of a youth radio service. Perhaps we could convince him to come back?
Interestingly, the Irish model was proposed in Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill.
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Great. Another career politican in a country that is a basket case like Pakistan and India...run by a corrupt political class.
All could have been prevented, of course, if the people were allowed to choose the system of government the people want for their country... i.e. Direct Democracy (something most paternalist Republicans all over the world will never ever moot the possibility of for their countries).
I know you've made comments similar to this here before Spadj, but as I've said numerous times, to simply dismiss any change outright will only ever lead to no change occurring at all.
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