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| Leo Varadkar: Ireland set to have first gay PM | Leo Varadkar: Ireland set to have first gay PM |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Leo Varadkar has been announced as the leader of the biggest party in the Republic of Ireland's ruling coalition, Fine Gael. | Leo Varadkar has been announced as the leader of the biggest party in the Republic of Ireland's ruling coalition, Fine Gael. |
| Mr Varadkar beat his rival, Housing Minister Simon Coveney, with 60% of the votes. He will become Ireland's first gay taoiseach (prime minister). | Mr 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. | He is expected to take over from former Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, in the next few weeks. |
| At 38, he will also become the youngest ever Irish prime minister. | |
| The former GP is the son of an Irish nurse and a doctor from India and much of the media coverage of his victory has focused on Mr Varadkar's background, age and sexuality. | The former GP is the son of an Irish nurse and a doctor from India and much of the media coverage of his victory has focused on Mr Varadkar's background, age and sexuality. |
| 'Prejudice has no hold' | 'Prejudice has no hold' |
| Following the announcement on Friday evening, the news Fine Gael leader said he was "honoured" to accept the "enormous challenge" ahead of him with humility. | Following the announcement on Friday evening, the news Fine Gael leader 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | "Let that be our mission, to build a Republic of opportunity," he said. |
| The leadership was decided in an electoral college system that gave 65% of the vote to the Fine Gael parliamentary party - made up of 73 TDs (members of the Irish assembly), senators and MEPs. | The leadership was decided in an electoral college system that gave 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 had 25% of the vote, and 235 local representatives had 10%. | The party's 21,000 rank-and-file members had 25% of the vote, and 235 local representatives had 10%. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Voting took place this week around the country. | Voting took place this week around the country. |