Irish PM Varadkar resigns after rejection of referendums on families, women

Mar 20, 2024

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jonah Applegarth (Video Editor)

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Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has announced his resignation from his leadership roles in both the country and his party on Wednesday, March 20. The announcement comes after voters rejected two critical referendums aimed at revising the nation’s constitution regarding family definitions and women’s roles.

“I knew that 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,” Varadkar said. “That time is now. So I am resigning as president and leader Fine Gael, effective today, and will resign as taoiseach as soon as my successor is able to take up that office.”

BREAKING: Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar says he will step down as soon as a successor is chosen. https://t.co/YUijvQ1gTK
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 20, 2024

Despite strong backing from the government, the electorate declined proposals to extend the traditional definition of family to acknowledge cohabiting couples and their children, and to modernize the phrasing related to women’s responsibilities in the home.

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Varadkar, who made history as Ireland’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister, attributed his departure to a mix of personal and political motives.

Meeting with President Joe Biden on St. Patrick’s Day, Varadkar reflected on his time in office as “the most fulfilling time” of his life. He has pledged to continue serving until his party, Fine Gael, appoints a successor, which is expected before the government’s session in April.

Tags: Ireland

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

IRISH PRIME MINISTER LEO VARADKAR IS STEPPING DOWN FROM HIS LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE COUNTRY AND HIS PARTY. THIS DECISION FOLLOWS THE REJECTION OF TWO MAJOR REFERENDUMS BY VOTERS UPDATING HOW THE NATION’S CONSTITUTION DEFINES FAMILY ANDTHE LANGUAGE REGARDING WOMEN’S ROLES.

DESPITE THE GOVERNMENT’S SUPPORT, THE PUBLIC VOTED AGAINST EXPANDING THE TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF FAMILY TO INCLUDE COHABITING COUPLES AND THEIR CHILDREN, AS WELL AS UPDATING REFERENCES TO WOMEN’S DUTIES IN THE HOME.

VARADKAR, SERVING AS THE COUNTRY’S YOUNGEST AND FIRST OPENLY GAY PRIME MINISTER, CITED PERSONAL AND POLITICAL REASONS FOR HIS DECISION.

VARADKAR, WHO MET PRESIDENT BIDEN ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY, CALLED HIS TENURE “THE MOST FULFILLING TIME” OF HIS LIFE HE INTENDS TO REMAIN IN THE POSITION UNTIL HIS PARTY CHOOSES A NEW LEADER, BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT RECONVENES IN APRIL.