This is Ireland's new prime minister: The gay man who promised a "republic of opportunity"

"As the youngest person to hold this position, Vardakar speaks for a new generation of Irish men and women. He represents a modern, diverse Ireland and speaks for them like no one before," his predecessor Enda Kenny said in parliament ahead of the vote.
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Leo Varadkar, Photo: Reuters
Leo Varadkar, Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.
Ažurirano: 15.06.2017. 07:35h

The Republic of Ireland got a new prime minister, Leo Vardakar, who at the age of 38 became the country's youngest prime minister and the first to openly declare himself homosexual.

Vardakar took office on Wednesday and was nominated in parliament by his predecessor Enda Kenny.

"As the youngest person to hold this position, Vardakar speaks for a new generation of Irish men and women. He represents a modern, diverse Ireland and speaks for them like no one before," Kenny said in parliament ahead of the vote.

57 deputies voted for the new prime minister, 50 were against, and 47 abstained, the agencies reported.

Vardakar is a doctor and the son of an Irish woman and an immigrant from India.

On taking office, he promised a "republic of opportunity".

"The government that I will lead will be neither left-wing nor right-wing, because the old divisions cannot respond to today's political challenges," Vardakar said.

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