Leo Varadkar Announces Resignation as Taoiseach and Fine Gael Leader

Leo Varadkar, the Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, has announced that he will be stepping down from his position. In an emotional speech outside Government Buildings in Dublin, Varadkar expressed that leading the country had been the most fulfilling time of his life.

However, he also stated that he believes now is the right time to resign.

Varadkar has announced that he will step down from the roles of President and Leader of Fine Gael immediately. He will also resign as Taoiseach as soon as his successor is ready to take his place. It is anticipated that Varadkar’s party will choose a new leader by early April at the party’s ardfheis. Subsequently, the Dáil is expected to elect the new Fine Gael leader as the next Taoiseach.

The announcement of Leo Varadkar’s resignation as Taoiseach came as a surprise to many, including his Coalition partners. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin expressed his surprise at the decision but assured that it wouldn’t lead to an early general election. Varadkar emphasized that his decision to step down was both personal and political, and that he believed a new Taoiseach and leader would be better equipped to lead the government forward..

Varadkar clarified that there was no specific reason behind his decision and that he had no definite plans for the future. His resignation follows a turbulent period for the Coalition Government, marked by significant defeats in referendums on proposed changes to the Constitution.

Leo Varadkar, who is 45 years old, was appointed as the Taoiseach in June 2017, becoming the youngest person to hold the office. He has been a Fine Gael TD representing the Dublin West constituency since 2007. His departure is expected to lead to demands for an early general election.

Varadkar informed senior members of Fine Gael and Coalition parties about his decision. Some Fine Gael TDs won’t contest the next general election, fueling speculation about the party’s future leadership.

Potential successors to Varadkar as Fine Gael leader include Simon Harris, Simon Coveney, Paschal Donohoe, and Helen McEntee.