Leo Varadkar steps down as Ireland's prime minister in shock move

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s first openly gay Taoiseach, or prime minister, said that he will step down as leader of the country in a shock move.

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s first openly gay taoiseach, or prime minister, said Wednesday that he would step down — a shocking move that he said was for both “personal and political” reasons.

Varadkar, who became Ireland's youngest taoiseach in 2017, said he would also relinquish his leadership of the center-right Fine Gael party, which forms a ruling coalition government along with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

“I’m proud that we have made the country a more equal and more modern place,” he told reporters gathered outside government buildings in Dublin.

Sounding emotional, he said there was no “real reason” behind his decision and he "had nothing else lined up."

"I have nothing in mind," he added. "I have no definite personal or political plans.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/leo-varadkar-steps-irelands-prime-minister-shock-move-rcna144222

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