Indian-Origin Leo Varadkar has formally taken over as Ireland’s Taoiseach for the second time after receiving the seal of office from the President.
In a rotation between his Fine Gael and Martin’s Fianna Fail parties that was unprecedented in Irish history, Varadkar took over as Taoiseach from Michael Martin.
The two main parties in a three-party governing coalition on the center-right were formed in the early 20th century from opposing sides in the Irish Civil War.
Following the 2020 elections, they agreed to form a coalition with Ireland’s Greens and accept the rotating premiership.
At 43, he is still one of Ireland’s youngest-ever leaders, even in his second stint in the role.
After receiving the seal of office, Mr Varadkar said: “I’m honoured and privileged to have the opportunity to serve again. And I look forward to getting down to the hard work in the next few hours.”
Varadkar’s rise to the top of Irish politics was remarkable in a country dominated by a strict, conservative Catholic morality well into the latter half of the last century.
He became the country’s youngest Taoiseach at the age of 38 as well as its first openly gay head of government and first of Indian heritage.
Varadkar was born in Dublin to an Indian immigrant father who was a licenced doctor and an Irish mother who worked as a nurse.
He entered general practice after receiving his medical degree from Trinity College Dublin, but he continued to be active in politics. In 2007, he won the Dublin West election for Fine Gael.
Earlier, Micheál Martin formally stepped down as Taoiseach, paving the way for Mr. Varadkar to succeed him in a planned handover of power.
Mr. Martin tendered his resignation during an audience with the President on Saturday morning.