“One part of leadership is knowing when the time has come to pass on the baton to somebody else, and then having the courage to do it. That time is now.”
Varadkar’s wholly unexpected exit from atop Ireland’s three-party government raises sudden doubts about the survival of the coalition. It has governed with few serious difficulties since mid-2020, with Varadkar rotating the top post with Fianna Fáil party leader and Foreign Minister Micheál Martin.
The next general election is required by February 2025 but could come sooner, with the main opposition Sinn Féin consistently leading in the polls.
Martin said Varadkar told him, as well as coalition co-leader Eamon Ryan of the Green Party, Tuesday night of his plans to quit.
“To be honest I was surprised when I heard what he was going to do,” Martin said. “We got on very well. We had a strong personal relationship, which was important for the continuity and stability of the government.”
A rush of retirements
Of the leaders of the two main parties, Martin — Fianna Fáil’s leader since 2011 — was considered the more likely to retire, or be ousted from within. Martin is 63 and one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the Dáil, while Varadkar is still only 45, despite serving as Taoiseach twice from 2017 to 2020 and again since December 2022.
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
