Leo Varadkar, the pioneering gay Irish leader, announced his resignation,

Leo Varadkar announced his resignation as Ireland’s prime minister on Wednesday in an unexpected move, stating that the coalition government would have a better chance of reelection under different leadership.

Varadkar’s Fine Gael party will initiate the process of selecting a new leader on Thursday, with the outcome to be disclosed on April 5. Following Parliament’s return from Easter recess on April 9, a vote will be held to determine Varadkar’s successor as prime minister.

Despite Varadkar’s departure, which came as a surprise, it does not trigger a general election, which is mandated to take place by March 2025. Speaking at a hastily arranged press conference in Dublin, Varadkar, 45, cited both personal and political reasons for his decision, expressing emotions as he addressed the public. He stated, “After careful consideration and introspection, I believe that a new Taoiseach and leader will be better positioned than myself to secure the coalition government’s reelection.”

The incoming prime minister will have a year to address the significant polling deficit faced by both Fine Gael and their main coalition partner Fianna Fail against the main opposition party, Sinn Fein, the former po

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