The 2017 Fine Gael leadership election was triggered in May 2017, when Enda Kenny resigned as party leader. Voting began by members of Fine Gael and Young Fine Gael on 29 May 2017. On 2 June Leo Varadkar was announced as the victor, beating rival Simon Coveney. With Fine Gael being the governing party at the time, this election effectively appointed a new Taoiseach for Ireland. The electoral system was an electoral college of the members of the Fine Gael party, Fine Gael councillors and Fine Gael parliamentary party members. The result was announced on 2 June 2017 when, at a special meeting, the parliamentary party cast their votes. Varadkar became Fine Gael leader immediately upon the announcement of the result, but did not immediately assume the office of Taoiseach. On 13 June at a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, he announced that the runner up Simon Coveney would be appointed the deputy leader of the party. Varadkar was appointed by the President to the office of Taoiseach following his nomination by a vote in Dáil Éireann on 14 June. He became Ireland's youngest Taoiseach, as well as the first who is openly gay. Varadkar is mixed-race and is the first person of Indian-origin to serve in the role of Taoiseach.
Background
Enda Kenny has been Fine Gael leader since 2002, being first Leader of the Opposition, and then Taoiseach following the 2011 general election. The 2016 general election saw Fine Gael lose seats, and its Labour Party coalition partners substantially diminished. Despite these losses, Kenny was unexpectedly able to form a new minority coalition government. Kenny was weakened by criticisms of his handling Garda whistleblower scandal, and—according to an analysis by RTÉ.ie—was an electoral liability to his party at a time when an election could be imminent leading to calls for him to step down. On 17 May 2017, Kenny announced his intention to step down as party leader, effective at midnight. He requested that the party conclude the election of his successor by 2 June and said that he would step down as Taoiseach shortly thereafter.
Rule 49 of Fine Gael's Constitution and Rules state that a leadership contest is decided by an electoral college. These rules were brought in to effect in 2002 after Enda Kenny assumed the leadership, and came about as a result of a motion put forward by Leo Varadkar. This means that this was the first Fine Gael election were the electoral college was in effect. The electoral votes are allocated:
65% to the Fine Gael parliamentary party ;
25% to ordinary Fine Gael members, including Young Fine Gael;
10% to Fine Gael local representatives.
At the time of the vote the parliamentary party consisted of 73 members. There are almost 21,000 party members and Fine Gael has 235 local representatives including 232 councillors and 3 Údarás na Gaeltachta members. Candidates required signatures of 10% of the parliamentary party, i.e. eight signatures. Party members must be affiliated for at least two years to be eligible to vote.
Endorsements
Leo Varadkar received the endorsement of:
33 TDs including: Pat Breen; Richard Bruton; Colm Brophy; Peter Burke; Catherine Byrne; Ciarán Cannon; Joe Carey; Jim Daly; Michael D'Arcy; John Deasy; Pat Deering; Regina Doherty; Paschal Donohoe; Andrew Doyle; Charles Flanagan; Alan Farrell; Frances Fitzgerald; Brendan Griffin; Heather Humphreys; Paul Kehoe; Sean Kyne; Josepha Madigan; Helen McEntee; Joe McHugh; Tony McLoughlin; Eoghan Murphy; Tom Neville; Fergus O'Dowd; Mary Mitchell O'Connor; Patrick O'Donovan; John Paul Phelan; Michael Ring; Noel Rock; and the candidate himself
11 Senators including: Paddy Burke; Ray Butler; Maria Byrne; Martin Conway; Frank Feighan; Maura Hopkins; Michelle Mulherin; Catherine Noone; Kieran O'Donnell; Joe O'Reilly; Neale Richmond.
1 MEP: Brian Hayes.
108 Councillors.
Simon Coveney received the endorsement of:
10 TDs including: Maira Bailey; Seán Barrett; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy; Damien English; Peter Fitzpatrick; Simon Harris; Dara Murphy; Hildegarde Naughton; Kate O'Connell; David Stanton; and the candidate himself.
8 Senators including: Colm Burke; Jerry Buttimer; Paudie Coffey; Paul Coghlan; Tim Lombard; John O'Mahony; Gabrielle McFadden; James Reilly.
Undeclared parliamentary members prior to the election included:
5 TDs including: Michael Creed; Bernard Durkan; Martin Heydon; Enda Kenny; Michael Noonan.
1 MEP: Seán Kelly.
59 Councillors.
Because of Varadkar's commanding lead in support among parliamentarians he was considered the strong favourite to win.
Timetable
The following are the key dates in the leadership election:
17 May: resignation of Enda Kenny, TD as leader;
18 May: meeting of national executive to outline timetable and process;
20 May: closing of nominations for leader at 5pm;
25 May: first hustings: Red Cow Hotel, Dublin;
26 May: second hustings: Barrow Centre, IT Carlow;
27 May: third hustings: Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway;
28 May: final hustings: Clayton Hotel, Silver Springs, Cork;
29 May to 1 June: voting by members and councilors at 26 polling stations;
2 June: voting by parliamentary party; all votes to be verified and counted at a National Counting Centre in Dublin; result to be announced by the National Returning Officer, Gerry O'Connell.
Result
The Parliamentary Party accounts for 65% of the vote, ordinary Fine Gael members account for 25%, with the remaining 10% of votes allocated to Fine Gael local representatives. Although Coveney won the members' vote by a 2:1 margin, Varadkar's strong support with the Parliamentary Party secured him a commanding victory in the electoral college.
