Aid agencies sound the alarm as Israel's Gaza blockade enters a second month    Asian markets plunge as Trump's global tariff turmoil deepens    Trump's crackdown on university protests is casting a long shadow    Le Pen vows to fight conviction but large-scale protests fail to materialize    Al-Jasser: work is underway to restructure and develop aviation infrastructure    KAU to host Digital Communication Conference in Jeddah from April 29 to May 1    TGA: Riyadh tops with 45% of 290 million orders delivered in 2024    Diriyah to host third IMFC Deputies meeting under Saudi chairmanship    15,135 decisions taken to penalize Saudis and expats for violations    Saudi-European Parliamentary Friendship Committee discusses cooperation during Strasbourg visit    Saudi stock market loses half a trillion riyals, with Aramco's losses amounting to SR340 billion Tariff turmoil rattles Gulf markets    Benzema rescues Al Ittihad with stoppage-time equalizer in thrilling Jeddah Derby    Al Qadsiah and Al Ettifaq share spoils in tense Eastern Derby stalemate    Moussa Diaby praises Al Ittihad's resilience after Jeddah Derby draw "When you can't win, you take a point"    Saudi assistant referee Iman Al Madani joins AFC elite list for 2025    Riyadh Art Week launches with over 50 galleries showcasing global artistic dialogue    Turki Al-Sheikh announces five new Saudi film projects to be produced in Riyadh    Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Varadkar to step down as Irish prime minister and party leader
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 03 - 2024

The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar will step down as party leader immediately and will resign as Taoiseach as soon as his Fine Gael successor is selected.
Announcing his resignation, Varadkar described leading his country as "the most fulfilling time of my life".
He became Ireland's youngest PM in 2017 when he became Fine Gael leader. He currently leads the coalition government in Dublin, along with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.
Speaking from the steps of government buildings in Dublin on Wednesday, Varadkar said he had "led Ireland from unemployment to full employment, from budget deficit to budget surplus, from austerity to prosperity".
Varadkar added that he was "proud that we have made the country a more equal and more modern place when it comes to the rights of children, the LGBT community, equality for women and their bodily autonomy".
During his time as Taoiseach Varadkar oversaw referendums to change the Irish constitution which legalized same-sex marriage and abortion.
Varadkar also listed work to improve the affordability of childcare among his achievements as well as increasing government spending on arts and culture, international development, and public infrastructure.
He also conceded that "there are areas where we have been much less successful", adding: "I hope you'll forgive me if I leave it to others to point them out on a day like this."
Varadkar said his reasons for stepping down were "both personal and political".
He said that he felt that the current government "could be re-elected" but he did not feel he was the "best person for the job anymore".
In the Irish general election of 2020 Varadkar led his party to a third-place finish in terms of number of seats in Dáil Eireann, the lower house in the country's parliament.
As part of the coalition deal struck between the parties it was agreed that Varadkar and Micheál Martin would hold the position of Taoiseach for two years each.
In 2020 Martin was appointed Taoiseach with Varadkar serving as his tánaiste (deputy PM), before the two swapped roles in 2022.
Speaking after Varadkar's resignation announcement, Martin said he was "surprised" by the decision.
"I want to take the opportunity to thank him sincerely, we got on very well," Martin added.
Martin said he remained committed to fulfilling the full term of the coalition government.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished Leo Varadkar well following his resignation.
A spokesperson for the PM said he would "work closely with him and his successor".
The spokesperson added: "Ireland is a vital partner of the UK." — BBC


Clic here to read the story from its source.