Politics

Ireland’s next taoiseach: The Fine Gael heavyweights vying to replace Varadkar

Over the next fortnight, the battle to replace Leo Varadkar as the leader of Fine Gael and the country’s new Taoiseach will ramp up ahead of a party vote

Simon Coveney has ruled himself out of the Fine Gael leadership contest, leaving the door open to younger TDs like Simon Harris and Helen McEntee

In just over two weeks time, members of Fine Gael from all over the country will descend on the University of Galway for the party’s annual Ard Fheis gathering. The will do so with the party at a major crossroads, as it will be the first time in seven years that Leo Varadkar won’t address the Ard Dheis as leader of Fine Gael.

Instead, a new leader will take to the podium following what will ...