Ireland’s first out gay taoiseach Leo Varadkar has ‘no regrets’ as he officially resigns
April 10, 2024In a significant move that marks the end of an era, Leo Varadkar officially resigned as Ireland's taoiseach, expressing that he had "no regrets" about stepping down. Varadkar, the youngest and first openly gay leader of Ireland, has been at the helm as the country's prime minister for the past four years.
As reported by The Guardian, the 45-year-old will continue to serve as taoiseach in a caretaker capacity until a new premier is elected by the Irish parliament.
The announcement of Varadkar's resignation as Fine Gael leader had surprised many when he made it three weeks ago, stating that he would relinquish his role as taoiseach once his successor was chosen. The reins are likely to be passed to Simon Harris, 37, the incoming Fine Gael leader, who is poised to become Ireland's youngest taoiseach in history. It is anticipated that Harris will reorganize the Fine Gael ministerial team following his appointment.
Varadkar, who remains a Dublin West TD, has mentioned that he will make a decision on whether to run in the next general election during the summer. Speaking to RTÉ News before his formal resignation, Varadkar emphasized that he was content with his choice.
“Today feels pretty good,” he said. “It was a difficult decision to make that I oscillated on on a few occasions.
“It was a difficult decision to make and difficult to go through with on the day but certainly since then I’ve had no regrets and am looking forward to a different chapter in my life.”
He said of becoming taoiseach: “It’s almost impossible to prepare for. You pretty much become a different person the day you become taoiseach and the hopes and fears of 5.3 million people are on your shoulders.
“So what I’ve said to minister Harris, to Simon, is to be himself, to trust himself. Take advice, absolutely, take advice very widely, but trust your gut instincts and your own intuition.”
His departure was marked by his attendance at the North South Ministerial Council in County Armagh, seen as his final major political engagement. Varadkar expressed gratitude for the opportunity to conclude his tenure as taoiseach by participating in the council. As he steps down to embrace a new phase in his life, the legacy of Leo Varadkar's leadership and the impact of his historic tenure as Ireland's taoiseach are set to endure.
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