Ireland's prime minister yesterday announced in a surprise move that he would step down, saying a coalition government would stand a better chance of re-election with a different leader.
The shock departure of Leo Varadkar, who in 2017 became the first gay prime minister in the once staunchly Catholic country and returned to the post just 15 months ago, does not automatically mean parliamentary elections, according to Reuters. His successor will have 12 months to try to reverse the gap that his party, Fine Gael, has in the polls over main opposition Sinn Féin.
"My reasons for withdrawing are both personal and political," said a visibly emotional 45-year-old Varadkar at a press conference in Dublin. "However, after careful consideration, re-examination, I believe that the new prime minister and the new leader will achieve the re-election of the coalition government better than me".
Varadkar's government has overseen a strong economic recovery since the pandemic, but has struggled to cope with a decade-long housing crisis as well as pressure from record numbers of asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees.
His successor will have 12 months to try to reverse the gap that his party, Fine Gael, has in the polls over main opposition Sinn Féin.
Under his leadership, Ireland voted to lift the ban on abortion and legalize same-sex marriage.
However, he suffered a humiliating defeat this month when a large majority of voters rejected proposals to amend constitutional references to "the duties of mothers in the home".
Leaders of Varadkar's coalition partners said they were surprised when he presented his decision to them at a regular meeting on Tuesday.
Varadkar said that the time was right for him to leave office. "I learned so much about so many things, met so many people I would never have met, been to places I would never have seen at home or abroad. I am deeply grateful for that - and despite all the challenges, I wholeheartedly recommend a career in politics to anyone who that's what he thinks about. However, politicians are human beings and we have our limitations. We do our best, until we can't do it anymore. And then we have to move on," said Varadkar, adding that he does not have any concrete or personal plans for now.
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