Confident Leo ‘won’t call early general election’
After election FG will have to hold Government talks with supporters
LEO Varadkar has pledged not to call an early general election if he is today elected leader of Fine Gael.
The Social Protection Minister will be confirmed as the next Fine Gael leader late this afternoon, barring a massive political upset.
Mr Varadkar, 38, was ‘confident but taking nothing for granted’ as balloting closed last night among councillors and ordinary members, with the Fine Gael parliamentary party casting their ballots this morning.
Simon Coveney’s camp was insisting it would be working right until the end in pursuit of a triumph for the Housing Minister.
Mr Varadkar told Newstalk radio: ‘We have a minority Government. I won’t be seeking an early general election, but others might. It won’t be solely up to me.’
He also dismissed the expressed hopes of the Coveney campaign that several of his TD supporters could change their minds in the privacy of the ballot box.
‘One thing that I can absolutely say about this contest is that nobody has let me down,’ Mr Varadkar said. ‘Anybody who said they would support me, did. Anyone who said they would do so publicly, has.
‘So I have faith in my colleagues. I don’t have any reason to think that would change, given the fact they have been totally honest with me all along, and I have no reason to think that that’s going to change in the vote.’
The victor is expected to be declared around 5.30pm at the National Count Centre in the Mansion House. But the timeline under which he will be elected Taoiseach will be slightly longer.
The Dáil is in recess next week, during which time the new leader will talk to Fianna Fáil and the Independent Alliance and plot the make-up of his new Cabinet.
So far, all agree the existing arrangements will continue, including the agreement with Fianna Fáil. Mr Varadkar is then expected to be elected Taoiseach on Wednesday, June 14.
Last night, a Fine Gael source explained why details about the new Cabinet are up in the air. ‘There will be talks next week with all concerned, and Fianna Fáil could still throw a spanner in the works. That could happen – it took a long time for form a Government.’
The new Taoiseach will also face an acute crisis within the gardaí. Mr Varadkar, who has lauded the force’s whistleblowers as ‘distinguished’, insisted yesterday that he retained confidence in Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan.
But he added: ‘What we need a little bit more of in this country is accountability. Politicians have it, ministers lose their jobs, and TDs go before the electorate and can lose their seats. We need more accountability more widely.’
He appeared to anticipate a victory when he reflected last night that he was younger than WT Cosgrave, who was President of the Executive Council at 42, with the new President of France the same age.
‘I’ve been looking at the [age] numbers,’ he said. ‘It’s relevant because it does represent a change in leadership in Ireland.
‘I will govern for all generations, but it is important for a country where most of the population is young. I’m somebody whose election, if it comes about – because really of my age, my mixed-race background, and all the things that make up my character – it would send out a message to every child in Ireland that no public office will ever be barred to them.’
Asked about Enda Kenny’s departing invitation to President Trump to visit Ireland, Mr Varadkar said: ‘We did speak once on the phone when I was tourism minister and he was looking to buy a property in Co. Clare. I would have different politics to him on many issues. If he comes, yeah, I will meet him. I would hardly not. I would not withdraw that invitation now it has been offered, I believe it would damage relations to do so.’
Mr Varadkar has previously said that if he were Taoiseach he would not invite President Trump to visit Ireland. Last night he said: ‘Presidents and governments come and go, but the relationship is enduring. Ireland’s place, in my view, is at the heart of Europe in a globalised world.’
‘Nobody has let me down’