Varadkar and Coveney going the distance

Simon Coveney (left) and Leo Varadkar at their leadership debate. RollingNews.ie photo.

 

By Evan Short

Voting is underway to elect the new leader of Fine Gael.

The winner of the contest, to be announced on Friday, will become taoiseach in a matter of weeks.

Fine Gael members began voting on Monday at polling stations throughout the Republic.

21,000 members are eligible to vote as well as 232 councilors, 73 members of the Parliamentary Party, as well as three Údarás na Gaeltachta members.

On Monday, there was an average of 53 percent turnout across the eight polling stations which were open.

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As voting got underway, Leo Varadkar was still believed to be the front-runner, ahead of fellow cabinet member Simon Coveney.

“My campaign has always been very realistic about our prospects,” said Mr. Varadkar.

“Without being insulting to Mr. Coveney’s team, they have tended to talk up their prospects. You will have seen that pan out very clearly over the past week or two.

“At least, based on the information we have, I have a clear lead with the parliamentarians and with the councilors as well.

“I actually don’t have any reliable information on the members and how they are going to turn out to vote.”

Varadkar added: “I don’t think the results are going to show an urban-rural divide. A lot of members for obvious reasons will be advised and guided by their TDs and councilors.”

Simon Coveney said he believed he could still win the contest.

“Our team is very bullish. (Last week) I believed I could win this, but it was a small group of people around me who believed that I could. Now I think that group is a much bigger group and it has a growing membership.

“And I believe by the time that Friday comes around, many members will have voted so when our Oireachtas colleagues votes, I think many will see that their membership in their own constituencies will have voted for Simon Coveney and not Leo Varadkar and I hope they take note of that.”

Voting will continue until Thursday with the winner being declared on Friday.

 

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