Close X
Monday, November 25, 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

    Woman Executive Who Ran Over 5 With Car In Pune, Arrested

    Woman Executive Who Ran Over 5 With Car In Pune, Arrested
    Sujata Shroff, director at a city-based realty firm, was arrested yesterday. She was later produced in a local court which granted her bail, they said.

    Woman Executive Who Ran Over 5 With Car In Pune, Arrested

    Attack On Sikh Cab Driver Troubling: Top US Lawmaker

    Attack On Sikh Cab Driver Troubling: Top US Lawmaker
    Reports indicate this could have been a hate crime, which makes this unacceptable attack all the more horrifying," Congressman Joe Crowley, chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said in a statement.

    Attack On Sikh Cab Driver Troubling: Top US Lawmaker

    Indian-Origin CEO In US Beats Wife; Offered 1 Month Jail: Report

    Indian-Origin CEO In US Beats Wife; Offered 1 Month Jail: Report
    Abhishek Gattani, 38, pleaded "no contest" when his wife approached the police

    Indian-Origin CEO In US Beats Wife; Offered 1 Month Jail: Report

    Pakistani Women Track Down, Kill Man Accused Of Blasphemy A Decade Ago

    Pakistani Women Track Down, Kill Man Accused Of Blasphemy A Decade Ago
    Three women dressed in burqas killed a man who had been accused of blasphemy in 2004 in a northeastern Pakistani town, police said on Thursday, the second brutal killing over alleged insults to Islam in a week.

    Pakistani Women Track Down, Kill Man Accused Of Blasphemy A Decade Ago

    'You're A Disgrace! Go Back To India': Woman Yells At Ireland Train Passengers

    'You're A Disgrace! Go Back To India': Woman Yells At Ireland Train Passengers
    A woman hurled racist abuse at passengers on a train in Ireland, telling one of them to "f*** off back to India" after he placed a bag on an empty seat.

    'You're A Disgrace! Go Back To India': Woman Yells At Ireland Train Passengers

    Indian-American CEO Who Made Maid 'Sleep Near Dogs' Told To Pay $135k

    Indian-American CEO Who Made Maid 'Sleep Near Dogs' Told To Pay $135k
    An Indian-American CEO has been ordered to pay US$ 135,000 to her former domestic worker after a Labour Department investigation found she underpaid and mistreated her.

    Indian-American CEO Who Made Maid 'Sleep Near Dogs' Told To Pay $135k