In Ireland a Person Is ‘Judged by His Actions and Character, Not His Origins or Identity’ Says Leo Varadkar
Leo Varadkar on Friday was elected as Leader of Ireland’s Fine Gael Party, setting him up to be appointed “Taoiseach,” or Prime Minister, by Ireland’s president, as is customary. Varadkar is just 38-years old, which will make him the youngest to hold that office. He is the son of an Indian immigrant, and will become Ireland’s first openly-gay Prime Minister.
Friday, after his election Varadkar delivered a powerful and heartwarming speech directed to giving children hope. He told supporters that in Ireland, “it doesn’t matter where you come from, but rather where you want to go.”
Varadkar said his father traveled 5000 miles to reach Ireland, but never imagined that his son would grow up to lead the nation. He praised Ireland as a nation where a person is “judged by his actions and character, not his origins or identity.”Â
“Every proud parent in Ireland today can dream big dreams for their children. Every boy and girl can know that there’s no limit to their ambitions, if they’re given the opportunity.”
“Let that be our mission,” Varadkar said, “to build in Ireland a republic of opportunity, one in which every individual is given the opportunity to meet their full potential, and every part of the country is given its opportunity to share in our prosperity.”
In this video, Varadkar can also be seen hugging his parents, and being carried by his fellow party members:
Ireland’s Independent, which posted the above video, reports Varadkar, a physician, says of his identity, “It’s not something that defines me. I’m not a half-Indian politician, or a doctor politician or a gay politician for that matter. It’s just part of who I am, it doesn’t define me, it is part of my character I suppose.”
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