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The Irish vote for presidential elections, where outgoing state leader Michael Higgins is considered a favorite, and for the referendum that cancels the ban on blasphemy dating back to the country's strongly Catholic past.
If Higgins wins, beating the five challengers, he will get a new seven-year term in his essentially ceremonial posting.
The referendum is on the contrary the latest in a series of measures that have moved Ireland away from its reputation as a rigid Catholic country. The law defines blasphemy as "a seriously abusive or insulting affair with regard to subjects considered sacred by any religion, thus causing prejudice to a large number of adherents of that religion". It is punishable by a fine of up to 25,000 euros, although the last attempt to try someone for blasphemy dates back to 1855, when a priest accidentally burned a Bible. This blasphemy was first introduced in the 1937 Constitution.
The law was severely criticized when, three years ago, police were forced to investigate a television personality, Stephen Fry, who had spoken of a stupid God in an interview. The referendum follows that of May, when 66% of citizens voted in favor of lifting the ban on abortions. Many welcomed this vote as a sign of diminishing influence of the Catholic Church on the country.
Open urns up to 23 Italian. Saturday the bad.
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