After the initial shock had passed and the constant flow of texts had ceased within Leinster House, confusion arose: why did he decide to resign now? The abrupt resignation of Leo Varadkar was termed by his colleagues in the Fine Gael party as an unexpected event, and the Government Ministers were left completely startled by this revelation during their routine meeting.
Regardless of the day, this bolt-from-the-blue decision left several people puzzled, particularly due to the absence of foreboding public remarks from potential successors or any immediate crisis that would force him out. Thus, the chosen timing was a tad perplexing.
It has since emerged that Varadkar had actually been contemplating his choices from around the Christmas period. If he were to exit, he preferred to do it in a manner that would not only permit him to clarify his grounds for leaving but also to grant his successor a fair shot at leading successfully.
Exiting prior to his St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House was seen as an unworkable decision. Conversely, waiting until possible defeat in the local elections would incite public political infighting, making his departure considerably more mortifying.
This is how those close to him perceive him: a man fatigued by the constancy deciding his own fate on his own terms. However, this is not the complete story.
Varadkar’s charm within Fine Gael started waning following the 2020 general election and has been on a downward trajectory ever since. By the summer of 2021, Eoghan Murphy, former Fine Gael TD, was the third high-ranking Varadkar confidant to quit the party after Brian Hayes and Michael D’Arcy, despite being thought of as the Taoiseach’s trusted advisors. They did not foresee a future with Fine Gael.
Alongside Murphy, the count of Fine Gael TDs elected in 2020 who have announced their retirement at the upcoming election has now increased to 11. If Varadkar chooses not to run again, this number will reach 12. Every announcement resulted in further grumblings about Varadkar’s leadership.
Is Varadkar’s situation to blame? Or are these lawmakers simply abandoning a failing cause, and possibly a protracted servitude in the opposition?
Next came the challenge of Covid-19.
Like other politicians, the extreme burden of guiding the nation through a worldwide health crisis seems to have had a severe impact. As the Taoiseach position spun back to him, it was apparent to many journalists that his dedication to the role was not as sincere as it had previously been.
Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon, this week, has cited the negativity of modern politics as his reason for deciding not to compete in the upcoming general election. A simple search of Leo Varadkar’s name on social platforms reveals a broad spectrum of faceless comments – from intensely personal criticism to death threats. The relentless nature of political discourse has been amplified by social media.
Additionally, the substantial backlash against the government’s proposed amendments to the Constitution, particularly in the family and care referendums, resulted in the highest percentage of ‘No’ votes the country has ever seen.
Varadkar, as government leader, publicly conceded responsibility, announcing there would be an introspective period. Despite the proposals being generally supported by most opposition factions, they weren’t seeking his downfall. The situation was undoubtedly different within Fine Gael: several insiders have indicated that he was fingered as a scapegoat and his political discretion has been a widely discussed topic among senior party members.
Given the threat Sinn Féin poses, there is little eagerness within Fine Gael to publicly show division and discord just before the local and European elections. The imminent elections arguably played a significant role in his decision to step down.
In his own words, “I think they will now have a better chance under a new leader”, referring to his loyal colleagues and close friends running in the local and European elections.