Varadkar to step down as Fine Gael leader

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced that he will be stepping down as leader of Fine Gael, and as Taoiseach, with immediate effect.

He will remain as a TD for Dublin West.

In a speech at Government buildings, Varadkar said “I know this will come as a surprise to many people, and a disappointment for some, but I hope you will understand my decision.”

“There is never a right time to resign high office, however this is as good a time as any.”

“Budget 2024 is done, negotiations have not yet begun on the next one,” he said.

“The new Taoiseach will have a full two months to prepare for the local and European elections, and up to a year for the next general election,” he added.

Varadkar, who has been leader of Fine Gael since 2017, led the party into the 2020 general election which saw it enter into coalition with traditional rivals Fianna Fáil, oversaw a referendum that liberalised Ireland’s abortion laws and recently suffered twin defeats in referendums on family and care.

With Fine Gael losing seats in the 2020 general election, the party was forced into a grand coalition with Fianna Fáil and the Greens, with Varadkar leading Ireland through the outbreak of the Covid-19 outbreak before Micheál Martin took charge as Taoiseach in June 2020.

Martin served as Taoiseach with Varadkar serving as Tánaiste until December 2022, until the roles were switched as part of the coalition agreement.

Vardkar had previously stated he would not stay in politics past the age of 50.

A leadership campaign will now take place within Fine Gael, with the likes of Simon Harris and Simon Coveney expected to be the top contenders.

Varadkar beat Coveney to the leadership in 2017, with Coveney winning the votes of the party base but Varadkar won the majority of support from elected representatives.

There was speculation that the Government announcement would trigger a general election, but this did not come to pass.

A general election must be held within the next 12 months, with local and European elections taking place in June.