Michael D. Higgins has been officially announced winner of Irish presidential election to succeed outgoing President Mary P. McAleese as the country's ninth president in 14 years. 
Official results showed that Higgins obtained 1,007,104 votes out of the 3-million strong electorates who partook in balloting. Higgins, 70, expressed his pleasure for having won the election and said that he will be president for all the Irish people.
Higgins, a former minister of culture, poet and anthropologist supported Palestinians historic rights. 
Higgins, a member of the Labor Party coalition, wrote about the Middle East conflict.
Source: BNA