DUBLIN: Leo Varadkar was elected Irish Prime Minister on Wednesday, making the 38-year-old son of an Indian immigrant the once-staunchly Catholic country鈥檚 first gay premier and the youngest person to hold the office.
Despite inheriting Europe鈥檚 fastest-growing economy, he will face immediate challenges in the shape of neighboring Britain鈥檚 exit from the EU, a political crisis in Northern Ireland and a housing crisis at home.
Varadkar succeeded Enda Kenny earlier this month as leader of the governing Fine Gael party, with colleagues pinning their hopes of an unprecedented third term on the straight talking Varadkar, who they believe can widen their appeal in elections that may be triggered as soon as next year.
鈥淓nda Kenny鈥檚 leadership enabled me to become an equal citizen in my own country two short years ago and to aspire to hold this office, an aspiration I once thought was beyond my reach, at least if I chose to be myself,鈥� Varadkar said in reference to Ireland鈥檚 2015 vote to legalize gay marriage.
鈥淭he government I lead will not be one of left or right. The government I lead will be one of the new European center as we seek to build a Republic of opportunity, that is a Republic in which every citizen gets a fair go and in which every part of the country stands to share in our prosperity.鈥�
Varadkar鈥檚 elevation marks another chapter in the social change that has swept through the country of 4.6 million people that only decriminalized homosexuality in 1993 and legalized divorce two years later.
鈥淎s the country鈥檚 youngest holder of this office, he speaks for a new generation of Irish women and Irish men, he represents a modern, diverse and inclusive Ireland and speaks for them like no other,鈥� Kenny told Parliament, nominating his successor.
However it is his policies that will attract more scrutiny at home with opponents warning that the former health, tourism and social protection minister, who first joined the center-right party aged 17, would nudge it further to the right.
While analysts expect few major policy shifts from Varadkar and his new Cabinet, which he is due to name later, the new Fine Gael leader has hinted at some changes.
He has pledged to introduce a less ambitious debt reduction target than the one set by Kenny鈥檚 government last year and lobby the EU for additional leeway to free up more funding for badly needed infrastructure projects.
On Brexit, he wants Northern Ireland, a British province, to remain in the EU鈥檚 single market and retain access to as many EU programs as possible to ensure it secures a soft Brexit that he has said appears more likely following last week鈥檚 British election.
Varadkar, who took his seat in Parliament 10 years ago to the day on Wednesday, is expected to promote Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe to finance minister, replacing the retiring Michael Noonan.