The President of Ireland is now largely considered a representative position, all power is concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister, responsible to Parliament. As a rule, honored and respected personalities who have departed from the real political struggle are elected to the post of head of state. Today, this role is played by Michael Higgins, a well-known politician, sociologist, poet, writer, popular TV presenter.
Professor
The current head of Ireland was born in 1941 in the family of a lieutenant in the country's liberation army. Michael's father, John Higgins, along with his brothers, took an active part in the struggle for the independence of Ireland from English rule. Growing up in such an environment, Michael Higgins was largely formed as a personality and a future politician in those early years.
After graduating from school, the young Irishman continued his education at the Irish National University, where he diligently studied the basics of political science andsociology. Here he first felt a taste for power and control of the masses.
In 1963 he became vice-auditor, and a year later he was elected auditor of the student debating club. At the same time, Michael Higgins became president of the Students' Union at the University of Galway.
After receiving a bachelor's degree, the active young man did not stop, but continued his studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, where he became a master of sociology. The academic career of the future president of Ireland began at his native university, where he headed the department of sociology and political science. The professor also worked overseas, being invited to teach at the University of Southern Illinois.
Political career
While still a student, Michael Higgins joined the Fianna Fail party, later his political leanings shifted to the left and he became a member of the Labor Party. In 1969 and 1973, he participated in the elections to the country's parliament, but failed both times.
In 1973 Liam Cosgrave appoints Michael Senator from the Irish National University in Galway. In 1981, Higgins still managed to win the hearts of voters and break into the lower house of the Irish Parliament. But he only lasted a year. In 1982 he lost his mandate.
After a misfire, the politician decided to focus on local affairs and became Mayor of Galway in 1982. By the way, this is not the last appointment to this position. In 10 years history will repeat itself.
In 1987, stubborn and persistentHiggins is again elected to the lower house of the Irish Parliament, having managed to gain a foothold here until 2011.
Minister
In Ireland, the development of the Gaelic language, the language of the country's indigenous population, is of particular importance. For these purposes, a special Ministry for Gaelic Affairs was created for a long time, which in 1993 was headed by Michael Higgins. Soon the ministry was liquidated, however, the professor of sociology did not remain without work, becoming head of the joint ministry of culture, arts and the Gaelic language, serving in this post until 1997.
Active Irishman conscientiously undertook to strengthen the prestige of his native language. He became the organizer of the first television channel broadcasting exclusively in Gaelic, initiated the creation of the Irish Film Council. Also, while serving as a minister, Michael Higgins was remembered for his demand to ban the famous clause on the abolition of censorship, which looked archaic in modern society.
In 2004, for the first time, a politician expressed a desire to run for president of Ireland, however, his native party did not support the overly frisky minister, believing that his time had not yet come.
Convincing victory
In 2011, the presidential elections were held in Ireland. A sociology professor from Galway also took part, but managed to persuade the Labor Party to nominate him.
Michael won a landslide victory with 58 percent of the votevoters and setting a kind of record.
The newly elected President of Ireland has already managed to surprise many with his bright and unexpected statements. In particular, he said that he did not want to sit in the chair of the head of state for more than one term, and also announced that he would become an independent president, and not a puppet in the hands of parliament.
After the inauguration procedure, the politician went to the residence of the President of Ireland Aras Ukhtaran, which is located in Dublin, where he continues to stay until now.
