In his shocking revelation, Leo Varadkar conceded that conjectures about his next endeavour will be almost as intense as the reasons behind his resignation. “I currently have no clear personal or political agenda. I’m rather excited, however, to have the opportunity to contemplate them,” he shared with journalists at the Government Buildings. Nonetheless, this doesn’t alleviate the conjectures and he has numerous opportunities available. One government insider suggested on Wednesday afternoon that Varadkar will be more flourishing outside Fine Gael than within it.
His future could lie within Europe, with two potential directions suggested by pundits. Varadkar has the possibility of aiming for the role of Ireland’s next European commissioner later in the year. Despite this, Fianna Fáil is anticipated to fill this position, and Varadkar seemed to dismiss this possibility on Wednesday.
Another possibility is to vie for one of numerous European posts opening up subsequent to the EU Parliament elections this year. As a prior two-term governmental head in a member country, Varadkar is highly respected. Varadkar’s governments’ stance on corporate tax has inclined toward the mainstream, traditionally a detrimental aspect for Ireland. He has also shown support for discussions about augmented defence cooperation. His pivotal role in the Brexit saga further enhanced his reputation in Brussels. Furthermore, insiders maintain that Varadkar, recognised by colleagues as preferring the dignity of high office over the nitty-gritty of daily politics, will likely appreciate the unique characteristics of European politics. “He’s not a fan of attending local political engagements late on a Friday night, which is the reality of politics,” a coalition insider acknowledged.
The EU Council’s presidency was brought up as a possibility for him, but in view of his past actions, there’s a clear political truth that he will become a backbencher in the Government by April 6th. One long standing observer suggests that his prospective international standing has dissolved following his resignation.
Why now, is Leo Varadkar stepping aside?
There are numerous potential opportunities within the private sector. Varadkar could opt for a range of roles, with conjectures of a multinational, high-ranking public affairs post akin to the one Nick Clegg, the previous UK deputy prime minister holds at Meta. His reputation in those corporate chambers is highly respected.
Among the suggestions from various sources on Wednesday, further down the priority list, was a comeback to his medical career or a stint as a backbencher – he hasn’t dismissed the latter.
Varadkar has been openly admitting that he anticipates ending his political career by 50. It appears that he might achieve this five years ahead of his self-imposed deadline – yet his forthcoming steps will surely attract attention. As of now, his only response to journalists was: “I’ve not prepared any CVs”.