DUBLIN – When Leo Varadkar’s Indian father, Ashok, moved to Ireland in the 1970s, he chose one of Western Europe’s most socially conservative countries to call home.
Thirty-eight years later, his youngest child is set to become the once-staunchly Catholic country’s first openly gay prime minister, its first of Indian descent and the youngest person ever to hold the office. Mr Varadkar’s election as leader of the governing Fine Gael party means he will succeed Enda Kenny as prime minister in the coming weeks, marking another symbolic moment for Ireland.
“If somebody of my age, of my mixed race background can potentially become leader of our country, then I think that sends out a message to every child born today that there is no office in Ireland that they can’t aspire to,” Mr Varadkar said.
