MEDIA REACTION:THE ELECTORAL success of Michael D Higgins was well received in international media, even if some harked back to stereotypes about leprechauns. Much of the commentary focused on Mr Higgins's humble background, his poetry and his intellect. There were also plenty of references to his short stature.
Referring to “the little man who resembles a bard or a leprechaun, depending on your point of view”, the Spectator said he was “the least unprepossessing” of the candidates. “And for those who prefer age and experience to the alternative, he’s undeniably got both,” it said.
The Washington Postnoted that "local satirists sometimes depict him as an elf, hobbit or leprechaun talking in riddles and verse".
The Chinese news agency Xinhua remarked that as a published poet, Mr Higgins’s adeptness at language was an asset to him as a candidate. “Some voters said they were initially sceptical of Higgins’s short stature, which had been the butt of many jokes,” it said, adding that his “long career in politics ultimately worked in his favour”.
The Guardiansaid the elevation of Mr Higgins's victory "delight the arts and sports communities" in Ireland. "The Irish Labour Party candidate, who projected himself as a grandfather figure rising above all the controversies of the presidential campaign, will be an eclectic titular leader of his country."
The London Independentsaid that Mr Higgins was regarded as a "fairly unconventional politician", who was "noticeably to the left" in Irish terms. "He is something of an iconoclast, has a pronounced independent streak and is by no means a creature of the establishment."
Referring to the President-elect as “Mr Safe Hands”, the BBC News website said Mr Higgins oozed “trust, authority and dignity”. “It is what the Irish people wanted after three years of political upheaval and economic turmoil. Few in Ireland are better equipped for that part of the presidency.”
The Scotsmansaid that during an often bad-tempered campaign, Mr Higgins "stayed above the fray, and his record on human rights, in particular" won admirers.
