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Leo Varadkar

March 2024

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announces his resignation in Dublin.

Ireland’s ‘exhausted’ prime minister announces shock resignation

Leo Varadkar, whose Fine Gael party has struggled in the polls, said he would step down as leader of the country, citing “personal and political reasons.”

November 2023

In this photo provided by the Israeli Army, Hila Rotem Shoshani, a released hostage, reunites with her uncle Sunday.

Tears and relief as hostages are set free

Seventeen hostages held by Hamas for seven weeks were released by the terror group on Sunday (AEDT), after an agonising delay raised fears that the truce deal with Israel would collapse.

June 2020

Leo Varadkar will be back as PM at the end of 2022.

Irish centrists squeeze out Sinn Fein in coalition deal

The big two Irish parties have signed up the Greens for a three-way coalition that will see Leo Varadkar step down as PM - but only temporarily.

February 2020

Sinn Fein has been rehabilitated, largely as a result of British policy

Paramilitary parliament for Ireland?

It is appalling that Sinn Fein, a party with its own paramilitary wing, is now accepted at the top table of politics.

Mary Lou McDonald, the new and respectable face of Sinn Fein.

The new face of Sinn Féin

Irish voters have put a party with long links to criminality and terrorism into the box seat to form the next government.

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Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald celebrates with her supporters.

Ireland's two-party convention shattered as Sinn Fein surges

The former political wing of the Irish Republican Army, which has recast itself as the main left-wing party, secured 24 per cent of first-preference votes, almost doubling its share from the last election in 2016.

What have I done to deserve this? Ireland's Taoiseach (PM), Leo Varadkar.

Ireland's Varadkar set to turn economic success into political failure

He played a blinder on Brexit and got the Celtic tiger roaring again - why is the Irish PM poised to lose office this weekend?

January 2020

Leo Varadkar: "There is some unfinished business to do which I want to get done and there is some respect of protocol around this."

Ireland's PM heads for election with Brexit win in hand

Leo Varadkar set the stage for a general election within weeks, gambling that a strong economy and his success toward shaping a Brexit deal would strengthen his hold on power.

December 2019

Boris Johnson

EU dangles hope of broad trade deal in exchange for softer Brexit

EU diplomatic sources said the shift created the potential for a broader future partnership deal, including some elements of services trade.

October 2019

Donald Tusk and Boris Johnson

Brexit deal in sight as negotiators start to thrash out details

The UK and EU have gone into three days of intensive talks after Boris Johnson finally indicated he was prepared to make enough concessions to allow for detailed negotiations.

Are Irish eyes smiling? Ireland's PM Leo Varadkar with British PM Boris Johnson.

Ireland leaves door ajar for 11th-hour Brexit deal

Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar identify a "pathway" to a deal - but it sounds like there's still a long way to go in a very short time.

Playing the blame game ... British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Irish question may drive a stake through Boris' Halloween Brexit

The UK government downplays hopes of striking a Brexit deal, seemingly accepting a delay to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's October 31 deadline is inevitable.

September 2019

Despite Brexit, as foreign secretary Boris Johnson coined the phrase "global Britain" and stressed the importance of trade with China.

Britain, EU upbeat on prospects for a deal

British PM Boris Johnson seems to be getting more serious about a compromise, and Brussels and Dublin are responding with encouragement.

Leo Varadkar

Johnson gets short shrift in Ireland

Boris Johnson headed to Ireland seeking to move on from a disastrous week in London - but he found precious little encouragement from his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar, who savaged one of his favourite talking points.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/person/leo-eric-varadkar-1n4e