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2017 Fine Gael leadership election

2017 Fine Gael leadership election
← 2002 29 May – 2 June 2017 (2017-05-29 – 2017-06-02) 2024 →
 
Leo Varadkar 2016.jpg
Informal meeting of ministers for foreign affairs (Gymnich). Handshake Sven Mikser, Simon Carbery Coveney and Federica Mogherini (36268525943) Cropped.jpg
Candidate Leo Varadkar Simon Coveney
Electoral College 59.6% 40.4%
Party Membership 3,772 (8.7%) 7,051 (16.3%)
Local Representatives 123 (5.5%) 100 (4.5%)
Parliamentary Party 51 (45.4%) 22 (19.6%)
Leader before election

Enda Kenny

 Elected Leader

Leo Varadkar

The 2017 Fine Gael leadership election was triggered in May 2017, when Enda Kenny resigned as leader of Fine Gael. Voting began by members of Fine Gael and Young Fine Gael on 29 May 2017. On 2 June Leo Varadkar was announced as the victor, beating rival Simon Coveney.[1] With Fine Gael being the governing party at the time, this election effectively selected a new Taoiseach for Ireland.

The electoral system was an electoral college of the members of the Fine Gael party, Fine Gael councillors and Fine Gael parliamentary party members. The result was announced on 2 June 2017 when, at a special meeting, the parliamentary party cast their votes.[2] Varadkar became Fine Gael leader immediately upon the announcement of the result, but did not immediately assume the office of Taoiseach.[3] On 13 June at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, he announced that the runner up Simon Coveney would be appointed the deputy leader of the party.[4]

Varadkar was appointed by the President to the office of Taoiseach following his nomination by a vote in Dáil Éireann on 14 June.[5] He became Ireland's youngest Taoiseach, as well as the first who is openly gay.[6] Varadkar is mixed-race and is the first person of Indian-origin to serve in the role of Taoiseach.[7]

  1. ^ "Varadkar 'delighted and humbled' by election result". RTÉ.ie. 2 June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference resignation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Murray, Sean (2 June 2017). "Fine Gael elects a new leader today. Here's how it's all set to go down". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Varadkar appoints Coveney as deputy Fine Gael leader". RTÉ News. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Leo Varadkar elected as Republic of Ireland's taoiseach". BBC. 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Leo Varadkar: Ireland set to have first gay PM". BBC. 2 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Indian-origin gay minister Leo Varadkar set to become Ireland PM". Hindustan Times. 2 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
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