Leo Varadkar steps down as Irish prime minister in shock move

Leo Varadkar, the current Irish Prime Minister, has publicly declared his resignation from his post as leader of the Fine Gael party, thereby stepping down from the country's top political job.

Varadkar revealed a sudden decision at a media briefing held in Dublin. However, this step of him bidding farewell as the leader of the multi-party coalition group would not necessarily cause an all-encompassing election and he is estimated to be taken over by his fine Gael leader's substitute.

Varadkar made an emotional statement regarding leadership, stating that it includes recognizing when it's time to give someone else the responsibility and having the bravery to follow through. He acknowledged that that time has arrived and today he is stepping down as the president and leader of Fine Gael. As soon as his replacement is ready to take on the position, he will step down as taoiseach as well.

He stated that his motives were "related to both his personal life and political agenda." Additionally, he added that the succeeding taoiseach would have approximately two months to get ready for the local and European elections in June, and approximately a year to lead before the upcoming parliamentary election.

He expressed his confidence in the current government's ability to win another term in office as well as his party's ability to increase its representation in the upcoming Dáil. He emphasized his belief that the reelection of the three-party government would be in the best interest of the country's future by maintaining progress and advancing even further while safeguarding past accomplishments.

After giving it much thought and examining my conscience, I have come to the conclusion that a new taoiseach and leader would be more capable than myself in revitalizing and bolstering the team, highlighting our policies and executing them efficiently. Having fulfilled my duties for seven years, I do not believe I am the ideal candidate for this task anymore.

The individual who is aged 45 has held the position of taoiseach two times. One period occurred from 2017 to 2020, and the other period began in December 2022.

When he was voted into office, Varadkar became the youngest taoiseach in the history of Ireland. He is also the first openly gay person to hold this position. Varadkar's background includes having an Irish mother and an Indian father.

On Wednesday, he expressed his pride in the fact that the country has become more modern and inclusive. As he left the reporters, they asked him if the recent constitutional referendum, which has been widely criticized for its poor execution, was the final factor that led to the end of his time as prime minister.

Varadkar faced severe backlash for the government's massive loss in the voting process. The vote sought to modify the language of the 1937 constitution to eliminate obsolete mentions of women and family.

Experts accused him of hastening the discourse in a "trick" to conduct the referendums on International Women's Day. Ultimately, the electorate discarded the family referendum, with a 67% majority voting against it. Furthermore, they resoundingly denied the other proposal concerning women's caregiving duties, with a 74% margin.

Right after the result, Varadkar owned up to some of the mistake, admitting that he was among the many who made an error. He stated, "There were many individuals who did not get it right, and I am definitely one of them."

He was also blamed for overseeing unclear communication. However, it was generally assumed that the negative impacts of the referendum failure would not have a significant effect until he resigned on Wednesday.

Varadkar gained worldwide recognition when he assumed the position of taoiseach in June 2017 at the young age of 37. However, he did not attain this position in a general election but by taking over Enda Kenny's role as leader of Fine Gael and taoiseach, who resigned after winning the 2011 and 2016 elections.

During his initial term, Varadkar was highly commended in Ireland for leading the charge in garnering support from EU nations for the backstop plan to avert a hard border within Ireland, while negotiating with the UK regarding Brexit. Additionally, supporters of liberal viewpoints hailed Varadkar for his involvement in a referendum that granted legal access to abortion in 2018 - a significant milestone in Ireland's shift from a conservative, Catholic society to one that embraces diversity and secularism.

Last Wednesday, Varadkar expressed that his experience as taoiseach had been extremely rewarding. He claimed that his leadership had led to an increase in equality and prosperity in Ireland, specifically referencing advancements in LGBTQ+ and abortion rights. In addition, he stood up for the government's refugee policy, stating that he felt immense pride in Ireland's decision to help over 100,000 Ukrainians who had fled Russia's invasion.