The Irish Prime Minister resigns

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s prime minister, said on Wednesday he would step down as leader of the country and his party, days after the defeat of two referendums favored by the coalition government.

Ireland will hold a general election early next year, and his decision will not trigger earlier elections, he said.

“I know this will come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some, but I hope you understand my decision,” Mr Varadkar told a news conference outside parliament in central Dublin.

He described his years as party leader as the “most fulfilling time” of his life. “There is never a good time to resign from high office,” he said. “However, this is as good a time as any.”

Citing both “personal and political” reasons, Mr Varadkar said he would step down from the party leadership with immediate effect and continue to serve as taoiseach until his party elects a new leader. He said this would be carried out before the planned Easter holidays, with a new leader expected when the government returns on April 16.

He added: “Politicians are human, and we have our limitations.”

He made the unexpected announcement shortly after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning. There was little indication of Mr Varadkar’s decision just days ago, when he visited the White House and met President Biden on St Patrick’s Day.

Mr Varadkar, who is gay and whose father is of Indian descent, broke a number of barriers when he became the country’s youngest-ever leader in 2017 and has long been seen as the new face of the Fine Gael party, which is currently in a is in crisis. coalition government with its old rival, Fianna Fáil.

After the coalition government came to power in June 2020, he served as deputy prime minister before resuming the leadership role as part of the parties’ power-sharing agreement.