Leo Varadkar, prime minister of Ireland, has formally announced his resignation. Image source: Freddy2001, via Wikimedia Commons
The Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, has resigned due to what he called “personal and political reasons”.
The announcement on Wednesday came as a surprise for many when Varadkar announced he would be stepping down from leadership once a successor is chosen.
Varadkar was the youngest-ever appointed taoiseach, the title used for the role of prime minister, when first elected at 38, and is also Ireland’s first openly gay prime minister.
Now 45, he steps down prior to the next Irish election, which must be called no later than early 2025.
Varadkar was taoiseach between 2017 and 2020 and again during a planned rotation with Micheál Martin, as part of a coalition agreement between political parties Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party.
Varadkar has, throughout his political career, served as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport from 2011 to 2014, Minister for Health from 2014 to 2016, and Minister for Social Protection from 2016 to 2017 prior to his election.
During his time in politics, Varadkar has campaigned for referendums that led to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2015 and the overturn of Ireland’s restrictive abortion bans in 2018.
“I’m proud that we have made the country a more equal and more modern place when it comes to the rights of children, the LGBT community, equality for women and their bodily autonomy”, said Varadkar.
Varadkar, when asked why he was stepping down, maintained his privacy, stating he felt the current government “could be re-elected”, but considered himself not “the best person for that job”.
“Politicians are human beings. We have our limitations. We give it everything until we can’t anymore and then we have to move on.”
Varadkar has stated that he has “nothing else lined up”.
The Irish government parties do not expect Varadkar’s resignation to trigger a general election for the next taoiseach. It is expected for Varadkar’s replacement to be chosen from within Fine Gael.
Leader of the opposition, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald, has challenged this expectation, calling for a general election.
“This is a time for fresh leadership. Not just a change of taoiseach, but a change of government, and a change of direction.”
Varadkar is resigning as leader of Fine Gael and will resign as taoiseach once a successor is named.
