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Fine Gael leadership count under way | Fine Gael leadership count under way |
(35 minutes later) | |
The biggest party in Ireland's ruling coalition, Fine Gael, will announce its new leader later. | The biggest party in Ireland's ruling coalition, Fine Gael, will announce its new leader later. |
Counting of votes in the leadership contest is under way in the round room of the Mansion House in Dublin. | Counting of votes in the leadership contest is under way in the round room of the Mansion House in Dublin. |
The winner will take over from Enda Kenny as taoiseach (prime minister) in the next few weeks. | The winner will take over from Enda Kenny as taoiseach (prime minister) in the next few weeks. |
The favourite is Leo Varadkar, the son of an Indian immigrant and Ireland's first openly-gay government minister. The other contender is Simon Coveney. | The favourite is Leo Varadkar, the son of an Indian immigrant and Ireland's first openly-gay government minister. The other contender is Simon Coveney. |
Voting took place this week around the country. | Voting took place this week around the country. |
It is decided in an electoral college system that gives 65% of the vote to the Fine Gael parliamentary party - made up of 73 TDs (members of the Irish assembly), senators and MEPs. | It is decided in an electoral college system that gives 65% of the vote to the Fine Gael parliamentary party - made up of 73 TDs (members of the Irish assembly), senators and MEPs. |
The party's 21,000 rank-and-file members have 25% of the vote, and 235 local representatives 10%. | The party's 21,000 rank-and-file members have 25% of the vote, and 235 local representatives 10%. |
Mr Varadkar took a commanding lead on the first day of the contest after winning the public support of many of Fine Gael's TDs (MPs). | Mr Varadkar took a commanding lead on the first day of the contest after winning the public support of many of Fine Gael's TDs (MPs). |
Mr Coveney vowed to remain in the contest, and told RTE he remained optimistic about his chance in the leadership race. | Mr Coveney vowed to remain in the contest, and told RTE he remained optimistic about his chance in the leadership race. |
He is 44 and Mr Varadkar is 38, so either of them would be Ireland's youngest ever prime minister. | |
Mr Varadkar, who came out as gay in the run up to the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum, is currently in charge of the welfare system. | Mr Varadkar, who came out as gay in the run up to the 2015 same-sex marriage referendum, is currently in charge of the welfare system. |
He has come to personify the liberalisation of a country which was once regarded as one of Europe's most socially conservative nations - homosexuality was illegal until 1993. | He has come to personify the liberalisation of a country which was once regarded as one of Europe's most socially conservative nations - homosexuality was illegal until 1993. |
However, Mr Varadkar has come under criticism for his comments on progressive issues and workers rights. | However, Mr Varadkar has come under criticism for his comments on progressive issues and workers rights. |
The new Fine Gael leader will have to be endorsed by the independent members of the minority coalition government before he becomes taoiseach. That's expected to happen later this month. | The new Fine Gael leader will have to be endorsed by the independent members of the minority coalition government before he becomes taoiseach. That's expected to happen later this month. |
Enda Kenny, 66, who led the party for 15 years and was elected taoiseach in 2011, resigned as Fine Gael leader in May. | Enda Kenny, 66, who led the party for 15 years and was elected taoiseach in 2011, resigned as Fine Gael leader in May. |