The Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, has reportedly announced his forthcoming resignation in a surprise statement outside Government Buildings in Dublin citing “personal and political reasons.”
The Irish Prime Minister or ‘Taoiseach’ has announced he is to stand down as leader of the country and of the ruling political party, Fine Gael, according to Daily Mail. He reportedly stated he had “personal and political reasons” for resigning from the post.
Leo Varadkar governed the Irish Republic from 2017-2020 and again from 202w until today, The AP reported. He is reportedly likely to remain in his position until his party chooses a new leader in April. That leader would then need to be elected as Prime Minister by The Dail (lower house of the Irish Parliament), according to The Irish Times.
BREAKING: Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, is stepping down as Irish Prime Minister.
“It has been the most fulfilling time of my life” he says. https://t.co/xuWXkermvB
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/z79lAfsjyE
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 20, 2024
Varadkar, who visited The White House to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with President Joe Biden just last week, had recently come under pressure to call a general election after two constitutional amendments he championed were resoundingly rejected by the Irish People in a recent referendum. The proposed changes would have removed references to the centrality of mothers in the home, and broadened the definition of families away from one based on marriage, according to The Guardian. (RELATED: Jacinda Ardern To Resign As Prime Minister Of New Zealand)
🇮🇪🇺🇸PM OF IRELAND MET WITH BIDEN DAYS BEFORE HIS RESIGNATION
Just days after meeting with Biden to affirm Ireland’s support for Ukraine and discuss the Gaza situation, Leo Varadkar is set to resign.
Source: White House https://t.co/o6kXhGyaPs pic.twitter.com/3t5H6zNnHQ
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 20, 2024
Varadkar is the son of an Indian immigrant and was the first openly gay leader of Ireland, The Guardian reported. He has been in a relationship with his partner Dr. Matthew Barrett since 2015, around the time the country voted to legalize homosexual marriage, according to The Irish Mirror.
‘I am 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,” the Taoiseach said in his resignation speech, reprinted in Daily Mail. He is also one of the strongest advocates of Ireland’s proposed ‘hate speech‘ legislation, which is considered to be vaguely worded and strict.