There is an upcoming announcement from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar regarding his resignation as the Fine Gael leader. However, he plans to maintain his position as Taoiseach until the party elects a new leader. The procedure is expected to be completed by Fine Gael’s ardfheis in April. Subsequent to Varadkar’s departure being finalised, it is likely that the Dáil’s plan is to elect the incoming Fine Gael leader as Taoiseach.
Varadkar’s departure will predictably be a significant destabilising event for the Coalition, possibly resulting in demands for a premature general election. He will communicate his decision during a press briefing at midday outside the Government Buildings.
It has been revealed that Varadkar has already communicated his decision to higher-ups within Fine Gael as well as the leaders of the Coalition parties, Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan. Despite his withdrawal, the Government will continue to function unaffected until Varadkar formally resigns as Taoiseach. At this juncture, the roles of all ministers will cease and necessitate the selection of a new Taoiseach and Government by the Dáil.
This surprising news has been met with a substantial reaction within the sphere of politics. Speculation regarding a senior figure, possibly Simon Coveney, quitting the party began rumbling within Leinster House from early morning. However, very few thought the announcements would involve Varadkar’s resignation.
Since last year, ten Fine Gael representatives, including Ciaran Cannon who made an announcement on Tuesday, have stated their intentions not to compete in the imminent general election. This list includes John Paul Phelan, Michael Creed, Richard Bruton, Brendan Griffin, Joe McHugh, Fergus O’Dowd, David Stanton, Charlie Flanagan and Paul Kehoe, all of whom have released similar statements.
By 2021, Eoghan Murphy, one of Varadkar’s former allies and his 2017 leadership campaign strategist, stepped down from the Dáil. This significant exodus from the party, especially in a political setting where the incumbency plays a crucial role, creates a substantial setback for Fine Gael.
Further updates will be available soon.