Leo Varadkar resigns as taoiseach of Ireland
Leo Varadkar has announced he is standing down as Ireland’s taoiseach – equivalent to the role of prime minister – and also resigning as leader of the Fine Gael party in the ruling coalition.
It’s a move that seems to have taken the country by surprise.
Citing “personal and political” reasons, Varadkar, 45, announced his decision at a press conference in Dublin on Wednesday, saying in an at-times emotional speech that he no longer felt he was the “best person” to lead Ireland.
Varadkar, who said he was resigning as party leader with immediate effect, is expected to be replaced as taoiseach as soon as his successor as party leader is able to take office.
Contenders to succeed him as Fine Gael leader and new prime minister include the higher education minister, Simon Harris; the enterprise minister and former deputy PM, Simon Coveney; the public expenditure minister, Paschal Donohoe, and the justice minister, Helen McEntee.
Varadkar said his reasons for stepping down were “mainly political” but did not elaborate on what they were. Earlier this month, he was widely blamed for a crushing twin defeat at the ballot box, including the biggest ever referendum loss by an Irish government.
Varadkar, who said he had no firm plans for the future but would remain a backbench MP, has an Irish mother and an Indian father and became the country’s youngest taoiseach when he was first elected at the age of 38. He was also the first holder of the office to publicly discuss his sexuality as a gay man.