Varadkar To Resign As PM & Party Head, No Snap Election Expected

The Irish Independent is reportingthat Taoiseach (PM) Leo Varadkar is set to step down from office, as well as resign as head of the centre-right Fine Gael. Wires report RTE saying that Varadkar's resignation is not expected to lead to a dissolution of the current Fine Gael-Fianna Fail-Green coalition or snap elections.

• Irish Independent: "The wider public first became aware of a pending announcement after reports of frantic meetings in Government Buildings this morning. The Cabinet met this morning for the first time since the defeat of the referendum. [...] Sources within Government had told the Irish Independent this morning that the decision would be of a major magnitude with the phrase "political earthquake" used."
• Varadkar's resignation would come just weeks after the Irish electorate voted 'no' in two simultaneous referendums regarding proposed changes to language in the country's constitution. All major political parties, both in gov't and opposition had backed the 'yes-yes' campaign.
• The next election is not due until March 2025 at the latest. None of the governing parties are likely to want to trigger elections in the short-term, given that opinion polling shows that the left-wing Irish republican Sinn Fein on top.
• Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Fine Gael Deputy Leader Simon Coveney is in prime position to take over as party head. Under the coalition agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, he would also become Taoiseach. Fianna Fail had their 'turn' as head of gov't under Micheal Martin between 2020 and 2022, with 2023-24 marking Fine Gael's period in office.