The 2024 Fine Gael leadership election followed the resignation of Leo Varadkar as party leader on 20 March 2024.[1][2][3] As the only candidate nominated, Simon Harris, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, was deemed elected as party leader on 24 March 2024.
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Background
Leo Varadkar was elected leader of Fine Gael in on 2 June 2017 and was appointed as Taoiseach on 14 June 2017.[4] At 38 years old he became the youngest person to hold the office, and Ireland's first openly gay head of government.[5] He later served as Tánaiste from 2020 to 2022 before becoming Taoiseach again in December 2022.[6][7]
On 8 March 2024, two referendums were held on proposed amendments to the Constitution of Ireland. Voters overwhelmingly rejected both proposed amendments, and several sources reported the referendum results as a defeat for Varadkar.[8][9][10]
On 20 March 2024, Varadkar announced that he would resign as Fine Gael leader immediately, and as Taoiseach once a successor was elected.[11][12] In his resignation speech, Varadkar stated that the reasons for his stepping down were "both personal and political" and that he was no longer the "best person for the job".[13][14] Following subsequent speculation, he "denied having any ulterior motive or a new job lined up".[15]
Electoral process
Nominations for the position of party leader opened at 10 a.m. on Thursday 21 March 2024 and closed at 1 p.m. on Sunday 24 March 2024,[16][17][18][19] having been "brought forward [...] by 24 hours" and with Simon Harris as the only candidate.[20]
While, after Varadkar's resignation, there had been initial media speculation about other potential candidates,[21][22][23] Harris was the only candidate to seek the nomination or receive endorsement.[19] He was deemed elected as leader on the close of nominations on Sunday 24 March 2024.[19]
Had there been other candidates, the party's constitution provided for voting based on an "electoral college" model, with voting by the Fine Gael parliamentary party (65% of votes), ordinary party members (25%) and Fine Gael local representatives (10%).[24][25]
Candidates
Confirmed
- Simon Harris, TD for Wicklow; Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science[2][25]
Declined
- Simon Coveney, TD for Cork South-Central; Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment[22]
- Paschal Donohoe, TD for Dublin Central; Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform[2][21]
- Heather Humphreys, TD for Cavan–Monaghan; Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development[2][21]
- Helen McEntee, TD for Meath East; Minister for Justice[2][23]