Former Taoiseach and ex-Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar has announced that he will not be contesting the next general election.
Speaking at a meeting of the Fine Gael Dublin West Constituency Organisation tonight, Varadkar reportedly said that he wants to give any potential nominees in his constituency time to prepare for the party’s constituency selection convention in September.
Varadkar said that he would not personally be seeking the nomination because the “time has come” for him to “explore new options and opportunities”.
“I have never seen myself as a career politician and I am keen to see how I can make my contribution to society in other ways,” he said in a statement this evening.
“I shall, of course, complete my term in Dáil and will continue to be a full time TD until it is dissolved. I am making this decision at a time when the Fine Gael party is in good shape.
“We have a new leader, a fresh ministerial team, professional and capable staff in Headquarters and the Oireachtas. The party is well-funded, well organised and has had a successful Local and European Elections. We are also in good shape here is Dublin West.”
He expressed his belief that the party will hold onto his seat with another candidate and secure a fourth term in government.
“I believe every retiring TD has a responsibility to do all they can to ensure their seat is held by the party and with this mind, Senator Emer Currie and I are coming together to provide an enhanced constituency service and a new constituency office in Main Street Blanchardstown which will open in the next few weeks,” he said, adding that representing Dublin West as a TD had been the “privilege of my life.”
“Finally, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the tens of thousands of people in Dublin West who trusted me with their vote and gave me the opportunity to serve,” he said.
Last week, former Fine Gael Deputy Leader Simon Coveney announced that he would not be standing in the next general election either.
A large number of Fine Gael TDs have announced that they will not be seeking re-election, including Ciarán Cannon, John Paul Phelan, Michael Creed, Charlie Flanagan, Brendan Griffin, Joe McHugh, Fergus O’Dowd, David Stanton, Richard Bruton, Paul Kehoe, and Josepha Madigan. The new total number of Fine Gael TDs confirmed not to be running again amounts to around one third of the party’s total presence in the Dáil.
However, after a relatively successful local election for the party, it is expected that they will have a reasonable number of new Councillors who will be able to run as successor TDs.