New Delhi, Oct. 26 -- Ireland has elected its first openly leftwing independent president in modern history, marking a seismic political shift. Catherine Connolly, a 68-year-old former barrister and Galway MP, has been declared the republic's next president after securing a landslide 63% of first-preference votes - a stunning result that has shaken the political establishment and redefined the country's centre of gravity.

"I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change," Connolly said in Dublin Castle on Saturday night, moments after being declared the victor. "Together, we can shape a new republic that values everybody, that values and...