Indian-origin Leo Varadkar, first openly gay minister in the Irish government, might be the next Prime Minister of Ireland.
Varadkar, son of a retired Indian doctor and an Irish mother, is a leader of the Fine Gael political party and the social protection minister in the Irish government.
According to Journal news website, 35% of the Irish citizens participated in a poll survey backed Varadkar while the housing minister Simon Convey was supported by 23% participants.
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny could step down after a visit to the US to meet President Donald Trump on March 17.
Varadkar came out during an interview with Irish national radio on his 36th birthday in January 2015. “It’s not something that defines me. I’m not a half-Indian politician, or a doctor politician or a gay politician for that matter. It’s just part of who I am, it doesn’t define me, it is part of my character I suppose,” he said.
If Varadkar was elected, Ireland would be the fourth country to have an openly gay leader as the head of government. Belgium’s Elio Di Rupo, Iceland’s Johanna Siguroardottir and Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel are the other openly gay heads of government.
