On the big stage of politics, every goodbye is the starting point of a new journey.
This evening, in a very solemn manner, Leo Varadkar paid a tribute to the President of Ireland, Michael Brown. D. Higgins formally submitted his resignation letter, ending his tenure as Prime Minister of Ireland.
Varadka arrived at 5.55pm and then left the presidential palace at 6.40pm with a delegation from the Prime Minister's Department of the Irish Government.
He waved to the media as he left, but did not comment. He will remain acting prime minister until tomorrow afternoon when he is replaced by his successor, Simon Harris.
The 45 minutes at the Irish Presidency are a different kind of important thing for Varadka. He not only formally handed over his resignation letter to President Higgins, but also had an in-depth conversation with the President and his wife Sabina, sharing his thoughts and thoughts on being the Prime Minister of Ireland.
He spoke of the highlights of his political career, including leading the country in the early days of the pandemic, and Ireland's economic achievements – achieving full employment and a budget surplus that became the envy of Europe and the world.
Varadkar is proud not only of his achievements in office, but also of his contribution to the modernisation of Irish society, particularly in the areas of gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights and minority rights.
He candidly reflected on some of his over-cautiousness, especially in his misprediction of the economic recovery in 2011-2012, which led to the postponement of large investment and spending decisions in areas such as housing, which was also a regret of his career.
Resignation does not mean the end, but the beginning of another form. Varadka will continue as a member of parliament and will be actively involved in local and European elections.
He plans to take some time off in the summer before deciding whether to run again.
"I haven't had two weeks off in a row since 1996. ”
Despite a challenging political career, Varadkar has a deep love for politics and encourages more people to get involved, "You can see things you've never seen, meet people you've never met, go where you've never been, make real decisions that make a big impact on people's lives." ”
Regarding his future, Varadka said he doesn't have any plans, but he has received some interesting invitations. He said he would look into the issue during his summer break.
In terms of lifestyle, he said he wants to go to the gym more, eat well, and sleep well, which is what he is looking forward to.
Earlier today, Varadka visited Northern Ireland for a cross-border ministerial meeting, which was also his last event.
With Varadkar's farewell, Simon Harris is about to take over as the new Prime Minister of Ireland.
Harris's appointment is expected to bring new energy and outlook to Irish politics. This transfer of power not only marked a change in one's career, but also symbolized the continued progress and development of Irish society.
Ireland, an ancient and vibrant land, is waiting for a new leader to lead her forward.