Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s taoiseach or prime minister, shocked the nation on Wednesday with his announcement that he would be stepping down as the leader of the country and his party. This decision comes just days after the defeat of two referendums that the coalition government had been championing.
In a press briefing outside Parliament in central Dublin, Varadkar explained his decision, saying, “I know this will come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some, but I hope you will understand my decision.” He went on to describe his time as party leader as the “most fulfilling time” of his life, but noted that there is never a right time to resign high office.
Citing personal and political reasons, Varadkar announced that he would be stepping down from the party leadership immediately, but would continue to serve as taoiseach until his party elects a new leader. The process is expected to be completed before the planned Easter break, with a new leader expected when the government returns on April 16.
Varadkar’s unexpected announcement came shortly after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, catching many by surprise. Just days ago, he had been in the United States meeting with President Biden on St. Patrick’s Day.
As Ireland’s youngest-ever leader, Varadkar broke barriers as a gay man with Indian heritage. He had been seen as the new face of the Fine Gael party, which is currently in a coalition government with its longtime rival, Fianna Fáil. After serving as deputy prime minister, he took on the leadership role as part of the power-sharing agreement between the two parties.
Varadkar’s resignation marks the end of an era in Irish politics, and the country will now look towards the upcoming general election early next year to see who will lead them into the future.
