Kenny stepping down as Fine Gael leader

That’s all folks. Enda Kenny at an event in Government Buildings Dublin earlier today and before he announced that he would be stepping down from his party’s leadership and, after that, from his position as taoiseach. RollingNews.ie photo.

 

By Ray O’Hanlon

After months of growing speculation surrounding his leadership of Fine Gael - and his serving as taoiseach - Enda Kenny sprang a surprise today.

He announced that he would step down as party leader as of midnight tonight (7 p.m. eastern).

Mr. Kenny will continue as taoiseach on an interim basis and up until June 2 at least when his party elects a new leader.

Ministers Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney are the leading candidates to take over the Fine Gael leadership.

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Mr. Kenny indicated that he would remain as taoiseach for a period after the election of a new party leader.

After the Fine Gael leadership contest Mr. Kenny will remain in place as taoiseach for a “brief but appropriate period.” This will allow his successor to meet with Fianna Fáil and the Independent members of government before a Dáil vote to become leader of the country, the Irish independent reported.

Mr. Kenny made his announcement at a party meeting earlier today.

Reports stated that party members were left stunned, some of them in tears.

Reported the Independent: “As TDs and senators gave him a standing ovation and broke into applause the Taoiseach choked up with emotion and asked: ‘Is it OK if I go now?’”

Mr. Kenny also issued a statement.

It reads: “Last year I indicated that I would not lead the Fine Gael Party into the next general election.

“I have decided to implement that decision today. Therefore I will retire as leader of Fine Gael effective from midnight tonight, May 17th 2017.

“I will continue to carry out my duties as Party Leader in an acting capacity, until my successor is elected through the Fine Gael Leadership election process.

“I have asked that the Fine Gael Executive Council expedite this process and to have it concluded by close of business on Friday June 2nd.

“I want to assure people that throughout this internal process, I will continue to carry out my duties and responsibilities as Taoiseach in full.

“I intend to provide a brief but appropriate period for my successor to engage with groups and members supportive of Government, and with other Parties in the Dáil regarding provision of Government for the future.

“I would like to stress the huge honour and privilege that it has been for me to lead our party for the past 15 years, in opposition and into Government on two successive occasions.

“I thank all our members, past and present for that privilege.

“I thank all my loyal constituents and supporters in Mayo for their unstinting loyalty since 1975, and for their support for my family previously in providing unbroken service to the County in Dáil Éireann since 1954.

“I thank my personal staff for their commitment over many years to their duties.

“I especially want to thank my wife Fionnuala, our children, my siblings and their families for their understanding of my work, and indeed for accepting the many intrusions of politics into family life in the interest of building our Country. I could not have engaged as I did without that base.”

Mr. Kenny took over the helm of his party in 2002.

He became the first Fine Gael taoiseach to be elected to a second consecutive term on May 6 2016, this after two months of negotiations following the general election.

He has led a Fine Gael minority government since then with the backing of Fianna Fáil.

Mr. Kenny is also the longest-serving Fine Gael taoiseach, having reached that landmark just last month.

He was in the U.S. for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and in the White House on March 16 where his speech praising immigrants, immigration and the European Union, this in the presence of President Trump, won widespread plaudits.

Mr. Kenny’s extraordinary career as taoiseach included a number of visits to the United States where once the New York Times, in reporting his ascendancy to the leadership of the Irish government in 2011, named him as “Edna” Kenny.

 

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