The Irish Prime Minister, Micheál Martin, has officially resigned from office on Saturday to make way for his successor and government partner, Leo Varadkar, in accordance with the coalition agreement signed in 2020 by the Fine Gael (Christian Democrat) and Fianna Fáil (Liberal) parties.
Martin was received by the Irish president, Michael D. Higgins, at the latter’s official residence in Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin, reports The Press Association news agency.
Martin has stressed that it has been an «honor» to perform the duties of ‘taoiseach’ or prime minister in a video posted on social networks. «I want to take this opportunity to thank all the people across this country who have shown me courtesy and kindness,» he said.
After overcoming the COVID crisis, the country faces such pressing issues as the rising cost of living or culminating the difficult process of finalizing Brexit on the EU-UK border and the political particularities of Northern Ireland. Varadkar will be formally appointed Prime Minister this Saturday at a session of the Dáil or Irish Assembly.
The agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil after almost a century of rivalry with roots in the Irish civil war of 1922-23 has placed the left-wing nationalist Sinn Féin as the main opposition force. The most voted party was Sinn Féin (37 out of 60 deputies), but Fianna Fáil won more seats (38) and made a pact with Fine Gael and the Greens to form a government.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
