The Indian based young politician Leo Varadkar selected as the new prime minister of Ireland. A parliamentary vote confirmed the country’s youngest and first gay leader by 57 votes to 50, with 47 abstentions. The youngest prime minister of Ireland declared his sexuality through RTE’ Ireland National Radio on his 36th birthday.
Leo Varadkar was born on January 18, 1979 at Dublin to Indian immigrant Dr. Ashok Varadkar and Irish lady Mariyam. His father headed from Mumbai to Ireland. He studied medicine at Trinity college Dublin.
Leo Varadkar took the charge from his former Taoiseach or prime minister Enda Kenny. Leo was elected as a councillor at his 24th year and to the Irish Oireachtas at the age of 28. He was the sports minister for the year 2014-2016 and minister of Tourism, sports and transport during the year 2011-2014.
Ireland decriminalised the homosexuality in 1993. Leo Varadkar declared his sexuality through the national radio. He commented “ I am not a half-Indian, or a doctor politician or a gay politician, For that matter. Its just part of who I am. It doesn’t define me”. Shortly before same sex marriage referendum in Ireland he came out as a gay. He has come to personify the liberalisation of a country which was once regarded as one of Europe’s most socially conservative nations.
There are three major political parties in Ireland, Fine Gail, Finna Fail, and Sinn Fein. Leo is a member of Fine Gail. Low corporate tax rates brought massive investment to the Republic of Ireland, which became one of the richest countries in the world. But the economy crashed amidst the worldwide financial crisis – and Ireland had to accept a £71bn international bailout. There are almost 25000 Indians in Ireland and they had financial relation with India. Devolution in Northern Ireland and dealing with Brexit would be immediate priorities are the prime priorities of the newly elected Prime minister.