Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar says he's quitting as head of his party and the country
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced Wednesday that he will step down within weeks once a successor is chosen.
Varadkar stated that he is resigning immediately as the leader of the center-right Fine Gael party, which is part of Ireland’s coalition government. His replacement as prime minister will be determined through a party leadership contest.
Citing "personal and political" reasons for his decision, Varadkar mentioned that he currently has no definite plans for the future and intends to continue serving in parliament as a backbench lawmaker.
During his tenure, Varadkar held two terms as taoiseach (prime minister) - initially from 2017 to 2020 and again since December 2022, sharing the position with Micheál Martin, the leader of the coalition partner Fianna Fáil.
As Ireland's youngest-ever leader and the first openly gay prime minister, Varadkar played pivotal roles in campaigns for same-sex marriage legalization in 2015 and the repeal of the abortion ban in 2018, contributing to the country's progress towards equality and modernity.
In his resignation statement in Dublin, Varadkar expressed pride in the country's transformation under his leadership, but his decision comes amid increasing discontent within Fine Gael, with a notable number of lawmakers opting not to seek reelection.
Additionally, recent referendum outcomes, where proposed constitutional amendments were rejected, further added pressure on Varadkar and his government's policies.
Varadkar's announcement follows his return from Washington, where he participated in the traditional St. Patrick’s Day visit to the United States, meeting with President Joe Biden and other political figures.
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