He became the commander again. Leo Varadkar succeeds as Prime Minister ofIreland to Michael Martin as part of an unprecedented exchange between the two main parties in the ruling centre-right coalition. He is handing over the Deputy Prime Minister post from 2020.

Leo Varadkar, Métis physician and gay, and thus at the age of 43 for a second term as Prime Minister of an Ireland long known as very conservative. Leo Varadkar, aged 38, became Ireland’s youngest Prime Minister in 2017.

“New Hope”

“I accept this appointment with the desire, humility and determination (…) to give new hopes and new opportunities to all our citizens”, he declared as his appointment was validated by a vote of parliamentarians in a special session.

Michael Martin tendered his resignation at a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins in Dublin on Saturday morning. It represents “a lifelong honour” of serving as prime minister, he said. Two centre-right parties (Varadkar’s Fine Gael and Martin’s Fianna Fáil) who come from rival camps during the early 20th century civil wars have established this orbit as part of a coalition with the Greens after the 2020 election.

The transfer of power will lead to a cabinet reshuffle and the next general election will be held by spring 2025.