Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian-Origin Leo Varadkar Wins: Ireland Set To Install First Openly Gay Prime Minister

Darpan News Desk IANS, 02 Jun, 2017 11:12 AM

    The son of an Indian immigrant who came out as gay in 2015 will be the next Irish prime minister, after he was voted leader of the country’s main governing party.

     

    Mr Leo Varadkar beat his rival, Housing Minister Simon Coveney, with 60% of the votes. He will become Ireland's first gay taoiseach (prime minister).

     

    He is expected to take over from former Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, in the next few weeks.

     

    At 38, he will also be Ireland's youngest ever prime minister.

     

    Following the announcement on Friday evening, Mr Varadkar said he was "honoured" to accept the "enormous challenge" ahead of him with humility.

     
     

    "If my election shows anything it's that prejudice has no hold in this Republic," he said.

     

    "When my father travelled 5,000 miles to build a new home in Ireland, I doubt he ever dreamed his son would grow up to be its leader." He said Simon Coveney had gained his and the party's admiration for his "principled and spirited" campaign and he looked forward to working with him to bring Fine Gael and Ireland forward.

     

    "Let that be our mission, to build a Republic of opportunity," he said.

     

    Mr Varadkar, who came out as gay in the run up to the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum, has been in charge of the welfare system.

     

    As well as becoming Ireland’s first gay prime minister, Varadkar, 38, will also become the country’s youngest leader, and the first from an ethnic minority background. His position will be confirmed later this month when parliament resumes after a break.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Michelle Obama Criticizes Trump School Lunch Decision

    WASHINGTON — Former first lady Michelle Obama is criticizing a Trump administration decision to delay federal rules aimed at making school lunches healthier.

    Michelle Obama Criticizes Trump School Lunch Decision

    Ten Indian-Origin MPs Set For Tough Fight In UK General Election

    Ten Indian-Origin MPs Set For Tough Fight In UK General Election
    Ten Indian-origin MPs who made it to the House of Commons in the last UK general elections are set for a tough fight in the June 8 polls as Britain's major political parties finalised their list of prospective candidates.

    Ten Indian-Origin MPs Set For Tough Fight In UK General Election

    World Cyberattack Cripples UK Hospitals, Demands Ransoms

    World Cyberattack Cripples UK Hospitals, Demands Ransoms
    LONDON — Britain's health service was hit Friday by a huge international cyberattack that froze computers at hospitals across the country — an attack that shut down wards, closed emergency rooms and brought medical treatments to a screeching halt.

    World Cyberattack Cripples UK Hospitals, Demands Ransoms

    Scorpion On Plane Delays Flight For Hours For Second Time In A Month. Yes, It Is United Again

    Scorpion On Plane Delays Flight For Hours For Second Time In A Month. Yes, It Is United Again
    Flight 1035 was set to fly from Houston in the US to Quito, Ecuador last night. The plane had left the gate at George Bush Intercontinental Airport when the arachnid appeared.

    Scorpion On Plane Delays Flight For Hours For Second Time In A Month. Yes, It Is United Again

    WATCH: Chinese 12-Yr-Old Schoolgirl Tries To Catch Toddler Falling Off From Window

    WATCH: Chinese 12-Yr-Old Schoolgirl Tries To Catch Toddler Falling Off From Window
    A 12-year-old girl has been praised for trying to save a toddler who fell from the third floor of a building into a busy street in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan province. 

    WATCH: Chinese 12-Yr-Old Schoolgirl Tries To Catch Toddler Falling Off From Window

    New York-Based Indian Bride Dancing On Popular Bollywood Songs Has Become A Rage On Internet

    New York-Based Indian Bride Dancing On Popular Bollywood Songs Has Become A Rage On Internet
    The video, posted on social networking website Facebook, shows Payal Kadakia Pujji delivering a mesmerising performance on two hit Bollywood numbers from the '90 era.

    New York-Based Indian Bride Dancing On Popular Bollywood Songs Has Become A Rage On Internet