Leo Varadkar, the former Taoiseach of Ireland, recently shared insights about his political journey, personal life, and the evolving dynamics of Irish society. Twelve days after that crucial vote, the Dáil confirmed Varadkar in as Taoiseach. His tenure thus far has been marked by successes and failures, molding his experience around what it means to lead and what it means to be Seattle.
Just as impressive has been Varadkar’s rise through the ranks of Fine Gael, where he gained a reputation for his doggedness, earning the moniker as the party’s “rottweiler.” His ascension to power started on June 2, 2017. His victory in that contest followed Enda Kenny’s resignation as head of Fine Gael. Varadkar’s powers of leadership and his phenomenal political talents come to the fore. He further enters history as the first openly gay head of government in Ireland. He publicly came out on his 36th birthday in January 2015, just months before the historic referendum on marriage equality, significantly impacting the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland.
Born to an Indian father, Ashok, a GP who moved to Ireland from Mumbai in the 1960s, and an Irish mother, Varadkar’s multicultural background is a testament to Ireland’s changing demographics. He went to Trinity College Dublin to study medicine, later becoming a GP himself, just like his father. Since Varadkar started his career in medicine, he has pursued points of view that ground public health problems in human experience. He effectively employed that expansive view to overcome adversity throughout his administration.
In 2019, Varadkar had the opportunity to welcome then-President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to Ireland. This final visit served as a reminder of the critical role international relationships played throughout Varadkar’s premiership. He was first Tánaiste from 2007 to 2011. Five months later, he was back as Prime Minister, thanks to a coalition government.
During his previous term of office, Varadkar presided over a massive building boom. In his first year, the country constructed just 7,000 homes. By the end of his tenure, that number shot up to 32,000! This major step forward towards equality takes place against a dramatic backdrop, including increasing anti-immigrant sentiment in Ireland.
Looking back on the reaction against immigration in Ireland, Varadkar noted that change comes in unexpected and complicated ways. “A country that has become very liberal and tolerant is now facing a backlash,” he noted. His emphasis on receiving Ukrainian refugees while continuing to help in present day conflicts demonstrates the depth of his humanitarian conviction. “I don’t regret for a second that we opened our door to Ukrainians,” he stated.
While his political career blossomed, so did Varadkar’s personal life. In addition to his work with GLSEN, he spends more than a decade in a long-term relationship with cardiologist Matt Barrett. The couple’s partnership has, it seems, given Varadkar security and support along his long political path. He emphasized the importance of personal relationships in navigating public life: “You can speak more freely, write more freely and think more freely. And I have “time” to go to the gym.”
His choice to exit the political stage at such an early age—he was still in his 40s—was equally radical. As it stands these days, many of these politicians get to sit in their positions for decades. Political life came to leave Varadkar ever more frustrated with its demands. “On a personal level, I wasn’t loving it any more,” he confessed. “The job is so full-on. You have to like it, and I wasn’t enjoying it.”
In discussing the concept of coming out and its impact on individuals, Varadkar expressed empathy for young people navigating their identities. “I’d be careful about giving advice to minors,” he reflected. “But 18, 19, 20: I’d say I’ve never met anybody who regrets it – even people who had a bad experience coming out.”
Reflecting on his life, Varadkar confessed that his youth was defined by a refusal to accept who he was. “Uh huh, I was scared of it, to be honest with you,” he remembered. “Like a lot of closeted gay men, you throw yourself into your career or whatever your thing is.” This sentiment could be echoed by many of us who have made the same difficult journey toward self-acceptance.
The former Taoiseach also offered deep reflections on political ambition and public service. “Politicians are driven by a combination of ego and altruism,” he said. The thread running through all his motivations is a pure intention of wanting to change the world, combined with the fact that leadership is really confusing. He acknowledged that politics often attracts individuals wary of vulnerability: “There is a profound risk that politics will only attract people who are perfect or shameless.”