Openly Homosexual and Married to a Man, Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar Says, “I AM NO LONGER THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB”–Resigns Effective Immediately.
Daniel Whyte III, President of Gospel Light Society International, Says, Good on Mr. Leo Varadkar For Being Humble and Telling the Truth. For This Homosexual (Man-Married-to-a-Man) Abominable Experiment in a Christian Country Against God Almighty, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Bible Was a Disaster. Mr. Leo Varadkar and his Government Tried to Take the People Further Than They Had Already Gone Against God by Trying to Change the Structure of the Family That God had ordained, and Got Brutally Slapped by the People Who Put Him in Office and His Own Party Has Turned Against Him. Good on the People Of God in Ireland for Rising up and Standing Against This Demonic WOKE Foolishness of Trying to Do Away With the Holy Structure of Holy Matrimony Between a Man and a Woman Only and the Family. Maybe Now St. Patrick Can Turn Back Over in His Grave.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is to stand down and also relinquish his role as the leader of the governing Fine Gael party, citing ‘personal and political reasons’ behind his decision.
Varadkar’s departure as head of a three-party coalition does not automatically trigger a general election and he could be replaced by a new Fine Gael leader, with a leadership contest targeted for early April.
It comes after the government was resoundingly beaten in two referendums on proposed changes to the Irish constitution.
A visibly emotional Varadkar, who became Ireland’s first openly gay prime minister in 2017 and is married to husband Matthew Barrett, declared that a key part of leadership is knowing when to ‘pass on the baton to someone else – and then having the courage to do it’.
He has faced growing discontent within Fine Gael as of late, with ten of the party’s lawmakers, almost a third of the total, having announced they will not run for reelection.
In a speech to reporters earlier today he described his work in politics as ‘the most fulfilling time in my life’, but recognised the time had come to leave because ‘a new Taoiseach and a new leader will be better placed than me’ to lead the country forward.
‘After seven years in office, I don’t feel I’m the best person for that job anymore,’ he said.
Varadkar also spoke of the ‘honour’ of leading Ireland through a series of challenges, including the Covid pandemic and Brexit.
‘I am resigning as President and Leader of Fine Gael effective today, and will resign as Taoiseach as soon as my successor is able to take up that office.
‘I know this will come as a surprise to many and a disappointment to some. I hope you will at least understand my decision. I know that others will, how shall I put it, cope with the news just fine. That is the great thing about living in a democracy.
‘There is never a ”right time” to resign high office. However, this is as good a time as any – Budget 2024 is done, and negotiations have not yet commenced on the next one,’ Varadkar said.
The Taoiseach confirmed he will remain in power as the acting leader until his successor is determined.
Pundits called the move, just 10 weeks before Ireland holds European parliament and local elections, a ‘political earthquake’. The country must also hold a general election within a year.
Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin, leader of the Fianna Fail coalition partner, said the announcement was ‘unexpected’ but added that he expects the government to run its full term.
‘To be honest, I’m surprised obviously when I heard what he was going to do, but I want to take the opportunity to thank him sincerely.
‘We got on very well. We had a strong personal relationship, the three leaders had, which I think was important in terms of the continuity and stability of the Government.
‘And I want to take this opportunity again to wish Leo the very best in his personal life and in his career into the future.
‘Could I further say from my perspective, this is a coalition of three parties, not personalities, and I remain committed to the continuation of government, to the fulfilment of our mandate and to the implementation of the programme for government.
‘There are still very serious issues to deal with – housing, education, health, climate, energy… We will work with the newly elected leader of the Fine Gael Party in terms of continuing the coalition, and I’ve been very consistent from the very beginning that my view is the Government should go full term, and that remains my position as of today – a lot of work to be done and we’re going to continue to focus on getting that work done.’
Varadkar in 2017 became the first gay prime minister of the once-staunchly Catholic country and the youngest person to hold the office at age 38.
He returned to the premiership in 2022 for a second term, and just days ago visited the US where he took part in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations hosted by US President Joe Biden in the White House.
Varadkar concluded his resignation speech today by thanking his fellow coalition leaders and his party colleagues for their support.
‘Most of all, I want to finish by thanking the people of Ireland for giving me the opportunity to serve them,’ he said.
‘And I’ll promise I’ll keep working for Ireland and my community in any way I can in future.’
Varadkar was applauded by Fine Gael ministerial colleagues as he finished his speech and walked back into Government Buildings.
But his departure comes amid a turbulent time for the Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party coalition government.
The Taoiseach faced staunch criticism from members of the coalition just days ago following a major defeat in referendums on amending the Irish Constitution’s language related to women in the home and the definition of families.
The proposal would have expanded marriage to include ‘durable relationships’ such as cohabiting couples but it was rejected by 67.7 per cent.
The Irish public also rejected a proposal which would have changed language about a mother’s ‘duty in the home’ with a clause to recognise care provided by family members to one another.
But this was also overwhelmingly defeated, with 73 per cent voting against it.
Varadkar said the electorate had given the Government ‘two wallops’ as he conceded early that the proposals for change had been rejected.
Varadkar’s resignation comes ahead of local government and European parliament elections in Ireland in June.
The next general election must be held by early spring next year.
Over the last year, ten Fine Gael TDs (equivalent to MPs) have announced their intention to step away from politics at the general election, fuelling speculation of internal discontent within the party.
Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon cited ‘coarseness and a toxicity’ in politics as one of the reasons he is leaving, adding that some of the criticism faced by politicians can be ‘deeply damaging’ because it ‘feels like it’s open season on you and your family’.
Mr Cannon joins the likes of Brendan Griffin, John Paul Phelan, Micheal Creed, Fergus O’Dowd, Richard Bruton, Charlie Flanagan, Joe McHugh and David Stanton, all of whom are planning to step down.
Cabinet ministers met in Dublin for the first time on Wednesday since the referendum defeats.
