Indian-Origin Leo Varadkar Returns As Irish PM

Dublin: Leo Varadkar has returned to the office of Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) in keeping with the agreement underpinning the coalition government.

Varadkar replaced Micheal Martin as Taoiseach (premier) in a rotation between his Fine Gael and Martin’s Fianna Fail parties that is unprecedented in Irish history.

Varadkar, 43, was nominated during a special sitting of the Irish Parliament before travelling to meet with the president.

He told the House the coalition had been born “in a spirit of togetherness” during the pandemic and said he intended for that to continue.

“Providing hope and housing, economic opportunity and a fair start for all,” would be his mission he added.

Varadkar, who is mixed race and openly gay, is stepping up from deputy premier.

Varadkar was born in Dublin to an Irish mother who worked as a nurse and an Indian immigrant father, who was a qualified doctor.