In a surprising move, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has announced his decision to step down, stating that he no longer feels he is the right person to lead his party into the upcoming general election.
Varadkar, who has served as taoiseach since December 2022 and previously from 2017 to 2020, made the announcement citing personal and political reasons but did not provide further details. The 45-year-old leader said that part of leadership is knowing when to pass on the baton and that he believes a new leader will be better placed to lead his party and the country.
His resignation comes shortly after his return from St Patrick's Day celebrations with US President Joe Biden and less than two weeks after a government setback in two constitutional referendums.
The Fine Gael party executive has set a timeline for selecting a new leader, with nominations closing on Monday and the new leader being elected on April 5. The winner is expected to be elected taoiseach after the Dáil returns from its Easter recess on April 9.
Varadkar's decision has taken many by surprise, including within his own party. While the resignation is not expected to trigger a general election, it marks a significant change in Irish politics ahead of upcoming local and European elections in June and a general election due by March 2025.
Varadkar, a medical doctor who became Ireland's youngest taoiseach and the first openly gay person in the role, has been praised for his leadership during challenging times, including steering Ireland through Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. However, his party has been plateauing in the polls, and Varadkar has decided to step aside to allow for new leadership to address the country's future challenges.
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