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    October 29, 2011

Ireland's Labor Party Candidate Set to be Next President

   VOA News
   Michael Higgins, left, and his wife Sabina react after he won in the
   first count in the election to be next President of Ireland at Dublin
   Castle, Ireland, October 28, 2011.
   Photo: AP
   Michael Higgins, left, and his wife Sabina react after he won in the
   first count in the election to be next President of Ireland at Dublin
   Castle, Ireland, October 28, 2011.

   Human rights activist and poet Michael Higgins is set to be named as
   Ireland's next president when final election results are announced on
   Saturday.
   Election officials say the Labor Party candidate received almost 40
   percent of all first-preference votes in Thursday's polling, which
   gives him a sizable lead over the other six candidates.
   His strongest challenger, businessman and reality television celebrity
   Sean Gallagher, conceded defeat on Friday.
   Higgins will succeed Mary McAleese, who held the symbolic post for 14
   years.
   Voters also cast ballots on several referendums, including one that
   would give the government authority to cut the pay of judges and
   another that asks if lawmakers should be allowed to conduct fact
   finding inquiries.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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