The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar will step down before the next general election in the Republic of Ireland. He will also step down as party leader. Mr Varadkar became Ireland’s youngest taoiseach in 2017 when he became leader of Fine Gael.
Announcing his resignation from the steps of government buildings on Wednesday. Mr Varadkar described his period leading his country as “the most fulfilling time of his life”.
In the Irish general election of 2020 Mr Varadkar led his party to a third-place finish in terms of number of seats Dáil Éireann, the lower house in the country’s parliament. He currently leads the coalition government in Dublin, along with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.
As part of the coalition deal struck between the parties it was agreed that Mr Varadkar and Micheál Martin would hold the position of taoiseach for two years each. In 2020 Mr Martin was appointed taoiseach with Mr Varadkar serving has his Tánaiste (deputy PM), before the two swapped roles in 2022.
Credit: bbc.com
