Ireland's prime minister Leo Varadkar resigns in unexpected move

Leo Varadkar, the Prime Minister of Ireland, announced his resignation on Wednesday, citing “personal and political” reasons.

This unexpected decision, described by analysts as a “political earthquake,” comes just 10 weeks ahead of critical European Parliament and local elections in Ireland. Moreover, a general election is required to be held within the coming year.

Micheal Martin, the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of Fianna Fail, the main party in the coalition government alongside Varadkar’s Fine Gael party, expressed surprise at the announcement. Despite the unforeseen resignation, Martin anticipates the government will serve out its full term.

Varadkar, serving his second term as prime minister at the age of 45, making him one of Europe’s youngest leaders, shared his decision in an emotional statement.

Speaking from the steps of the Government Buildings in Dublin, flanked by his Fine Gael cabinet colleagues, he reflected on his realization that he was not the “best person” to lead the country forward.

Highlighting the human aspect of political leadership, Varadkar remarked, “Politicians are human beings. We have our limitations. We give it everything until we can’t anymore, and then we have to move on.” His resignation marks a significant moment in Irish politics, setting the stage for new leadership ahead of impending electoral challenges.

Despite recent poor showings at the ballot box, Varadkar insisted that he believed the government could be re-elected.

But he added: “I believe a new taoiseach (prime minister) will be better placed than me to achieve that – to renew and strengthen the top team, to refocus our message and policies, and to drive implementation.”

“After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job,” he said.

“My reasons for stepping down now are personal and political, but mainly political,” he said, without elaborating.

Earlier this month, Varadkar was widely blamed for a twin defeat, including the biggest-ever referendum loss by a government, on proposals to reform references to women, the family and care in the Irish constitution.

- ‘Electoral loser’ -

Varadkar said his centre-right Fine Gael party would have a leadership contest, and that he would remain as premier until the new leader is elected, after parliament returns from recess next month.

Varadkar first became prime minister in June 2017. He was the youngest person to ever hold the office, Ireland’s first openly gay prime minister, and the first from an ethnic minority background.

He stepped down as part of a deal with opposition parties after his party’s poor performance in the 2020 general election, but took over for a second time in 2022 as part of the same agreement.

Varadkar, a pugnacious and sometimes controversial speaker in parliament, was in charge of Ireland’s response to the Covid pandemic and during Brexit negotiations, where he helped prevent a hard border with UK-run Northern Ireland.

Fine Gael has lost five recent by-elections, leading some insiders to see Varadkar as an electoral liability.

Ten of the party’s lawmakers have announced that they do not plan to stand at the next election.

“His legacy will be that of an electoral loser. He promised to be a good communicator, but it turned out he was bad at it. He had no clear agenda, and delivered little,” Eoin O’Malley, a political scientist at Dublin City University, told AFP.

In London, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said of Varadkar: “We wish him well on his next steps and we’ll continue to work closely with him as a successor is sought.”

In the city of Monaghan, few people told AFP that they regretted his departure.

“I don’t think it’s a big loss,” 37-year-old accountant Caron McKenna told AFP.

Francis Meehan, a 66-year-old council worker, hailed Varadkar’s handling of the Covid crisis. “Of course his experience as a medical doctor shone out,” he said.

Varadkar’s potential successors include cabinet ministers Simon Harris (education), Simon Coveney (trade), and Helen McEntee (justice).

Political analysts said an election was not expected in the wake of the announcement, though opposition parties queued up to demand a vote.

Sinn Fein’s leader Mary Lou McDonald, leader of the opposition, urged Varadkar to call an early election, saying it was “unthinkable” that a “conclave” of Fine Gael politicians decide the next prime minister.

With inputs from AFP