In a surprise move Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday he would step down as Ireland’s prime minister and the leader of the governing Fine Gael party for “personal and political” reasons.
The Irish PM said was quitting as leader of Fine Gael and would resign as Taoiseach (prime minister) as soon as his successor took up the post.
“When I became party leader and Varadkar back in June 2017, I knew that one part of leadership is knowing when the time has come to pass on the baton to somebody else and then having the courage to do it. That time is now. So I am resigning as president and leader of Fine Gael, effective today, and will resign as Taoiseach as soon as my successor is able to take up that office,” he told a hastily arranged news conference outside government buildings in Dublin.
“It has been the most fulfilling time of my life. Working with colleagues, I’ve had the honor of helping to lead Ireland from unemployment to full employment, from budget deficits to budget surplus, from austerity to prosperity,” he added.
What happens now?
Varadkar’s departure as head of the three-party coalition does not automatically trigger a general election.
He said he had asked for a new leader of the party to be elected ahead of Fine Gael’s annual conference on April 6, after which parliament would vote on that person becoming prime minister after the Easter break.
Varadkar was the first openly gay Taoiseach to serve in that capacity in the history of the Republic of Ireland. He was also the first head of Ireland’s cabinet with identifiable roots outside of Europe since the times of Éamon de Valera. De Valera, served as the Taoiseach (as well in many other high-profile roles) and was a long-time influence on Irish politics since the inception of an independent Irish state, and was born in the U.S. to a Cuban father and an Irish mother.
Possible replacement
The leaders of Varadkar’s coalition partners said they were surprised when he let them know of his plans at a regular weekly meeting on Tuesday. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said his party would work with whoever replaces Varadkar.
Contenders to succeed Varadkar as Fine Gael leader include Higher Education Minister Simon Harris, who was health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, a former deputy prime minister, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, and Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
The main opposition Sinn Fein party, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army, has held a wide lead over Fine Gael and their main coalition partner Fianna Fail in all opinion polls for the last two years.
“When I became party leader and Varadkar back in June 2017, I knew that one part of leadership is knowing when the time has come to pass on the baton to somebody else and then having the courage to do it. That time is now. So I am resigning as president and leader of Fine Gael, effective today, and will resign as Taoiseach as soon as my successor is able to take up that office,” he told a hastily arranged news conference outside government buildings in Dublin.
“It has been the most fulfilling time of my life. Working with colleagues, I’ve had the honor of helping to lead Ireland from unemployment to full employment, from budget deficits to budget surplus, from austerity to prosperity,” he added.
What happens now?
Varadkar’s departure as head of the three-party coalition does not automatically trigger a general election.
He said he had asked for a new leader of the party to be elected ahead of Fine Gael’s annual conference on April 6, after which parliament would vote on that person becoming prime minister after the Easter break.
Varadkar was the first openly gay Taoiseach to serve in that capacity in the history of the Republic of Ireland. He was also the first head of Ireland’s cabinet with identifiable roots outside of Europe since the times of Éamon de Valera. De Valera, served as the Taoiseach (as well in many other high-profile roles) and was a long-time influence on Irish politics since the inception of an independent Irish state, and was born in the U.S. to a Cuban father and an Irish mother.
Possible replacement
The leaders of Varadkar’s coalition partners said they were surprised when he let them know of his plans at a regular weekly meeting on Tuesday. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said his party would work with whoever replaces Varadkar.
Contenders to succeed Varadkar as Fine Gael leader include Higher Education Minister Simon Harris, who was health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, a former deputy prime minister, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, and Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
The main opposition Sinn Fein party, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army, has held a wide lead over Fine Gael and their main coalition partner Fianna Fail in all opinion polls for the last two years.
Source: Reuters
More In Politics MORE...
