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

    Indian-Origin Cornell University Student Aalaap Narasipura Found Dead In United States

    Indian-Origin Cornell University Student Aalaap Narasipura Found Dead In United States
    Aalaap Narasipura, a senior electrical engineering student at Cornell's College of Engineering was reported missing since Wednesday.  

    Indian-Origin Cornell University Student Aalaap Narasipura Found Dead In United States

    58-Year-Old Indian Detained By Immigration Authorities At Atlanta Airport Dies In Custody

    58-Year-Old Indian Detained By Immigration Authorities At Atlanta Airport Dies In Custody
    An Indian man who came to the US from Latin America without proper documents has died while in federal custody in Atlanta, in Georgia state, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

    58-Year-Old Indian Detained By Immigration Authorities At Atlanta Airport Dies In Custody

    Indian-American Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier Jailed For USD 33 Million Fraud In United States

    Indian-American Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier Jailed For USD 33 Million Fraud In United States
    Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier, a resident of Florida, was the former Chief Executive Officer of Essex Holdings, the company through which he carried out two fraud schemes.

    Indian-American Navin Shankar Subramaniam Xavier Jailed For USD 33 Million Fraud In United States

    Canadian Injured In Times Square Car Attack In 'Very Critical' Condition: Police

    Canadian Injured In Times Square Car Attack In 'Very Critical' Condition: Police
    New York City police say a Canadian woman remains in very critical condition a day after a speeding car slammed into pedestrians in Times Square in what authorities said was a deliberate attack.

    Canadian Injured In Times Square Car Attack In 'Very Critical' Condition: Police

    Amid Anger At Home, Pakistan Moves ICJ Over Kulbhushan Jadhav

    Amid Anger At Home, Pakistan Moves ICJ Over Kulbhushan Jadhav
    Pakistan on Friday filed a plea in the ICJ for it to rehear within six weeks the case of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, after the government was slammed by the opposition for "mishandling" the case at the world court.

    Amid Anger At Home, Pakistan Moves ICJ Over Kulbhushan Jadhav

    Slain Pakistani Sufi Singer's Family Seeks Protection

    Slain Pakistani Sufi Singer's Family Seeks Protection
    The family of famed Sufi Qawwal singer Amjad Sabri, who was shot dead in Karachi last June, has requested the Pakistan government to provide them security, a media report said.

    Slain Pakistani Sufi Singer's Family Seeks Protection