Irish PRIME Minister Leo Varadkar, who made history as a gay and biracial leader, resigned on Wednesday (30/3). The reasons are both personal and political.
Varadkar also announced he would leave the chairmanship of the centre-right Fine Gael party, part of Ireland’s coalition government. He will be replaced as prime minister in April following a successor emerges.
“The reasons I am stepping down now are personal and political, but mostly political,” Varadkar said without elaborating.
He plans to remain a backbench MP. Varadkar, 45, served twice as taoiseach, or prime minister, from 2017 to 2020.
Next from December 2022 as part of a job share with Micheál Martin, head of coalition partner Fianna Fáil. He was Ireland’s youngest leader when first elected, and also the first Irish prime minister to openly declare himself gay.
Varadkar, whose mother is Irish and father is Indian, is also Ireland’s first biracial taoiseach.
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He played a leading role in the campaign to legalize same-sex marriage, which was approved in a referendum in 2015. In addition he repealed the ban on abortion, which was passed by a vote in 2018.
“I am proud that we have made this country a more equal and more modern place,” Varadkar said in his resignation statement in Dublin.
Varadkar was first elected to parliament in 2007, and has said he would quit politics at the age of 50.
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He led Ireland in the years following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union (EU) in 2016. Brexit has had a major impact on Ireland, an EU member that borders the UK’s Northern Ireland.
British-Irish relations were strained when hardline Brexiteer Boris Johnson became Britain’s leader, but they have stabilized since the arrival of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Varadkar recently returned from Washington to meet President Joe Biden and other political leaders as part of the Irish Prime Minister’s traditional St. Patrick’s Day visit. Patrick to the United States.
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Varadkar also expressed his frustration at the political polarization that occurs in Ireland, as in other countries. There have been reports of discontent among Fine Gael, and 10 of the party’s MPs, almost a third of the total, have announced they will not seek re-election.
Earlier this month, voters rejected the government’s position in a referendum on two constitutional amendments. Changes backed by Varadkar that would have broadened the definition of family and removed language regarding women’s role in the household have been soundly defeated.
The results prompted criticism that the pro-change campaign was underdeveloped and confusing. However, his resignation was not widely expected.
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Martin, Deputy Prime Minister, said he was surprised by Varadkar’s decision. “But I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks. We are doing very well,” he said.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said the referendum result was not the reason for Varadkar’s decision. “I think there is a gap before the local and European elections (in June) and the timing of that probably influences it more than the referendum,” Ryan said.
Martin said Varadkar’s resignation should not trigger an early general election, and a three-party coalition government that also includes the Green Party would continue.
Varadkar said he knew his departure would shock and disappoint many people. “I know that other people, how should I say it, will take the news well. That’s the great thing regarding living in a democracy. There is never a right time to resign from high office. However, this is the right time to resign. .” (France24/Z-3)
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