Leo Varadkar secured a decisive victory to become leader of Fine Gael and the next taoiseach as he vowed to serve the country with “integrity, passionate determination and courage”.
“I think if my election as leader of Fine Gael means anything, it is that prejudice has no hold in this Republic,” he said to rapturous applause as he addressed party members for the first time as leader.
His opponent Simon Coveney marginally blunted his rival’s success by winning the support of grassroots members of the party and 40 per cent overall. The respectable result has put him in line for the position of tánaiste in the next government.
Mr Varadkar secured 60 per cent of the total vote saying he accepted the victory with “humility” and an awareness of the “enormous” challenges ahead.
“I am ready for those challenges and ready to lead the party,” he told those gathered at the Mansion House in Dublin where votes were counted yesterday.
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Mr Varadkar thanked his opponent for a “spirited, principled and consistent campaign”.
“You have my admiration too and I value your strength and patience,” he told Mr Coveney.
The pair traded blows throughout the campaign about the future direction of the party with Mr Varadkar urging modernisation while Mr Coveney emphasised social reform.
In a sign Mr Varadkar acknowledged the loss of the grassroots representatives he cited one of the housing minister’s key policies, the “just society”, saying he would renew the core values of the organisation.
“This contest has reminded many of us about what has inspired us to join Fine Gael,” he said.
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“Whether it is patriotism of our founding fathers, the idealism of the just society and equality of opportunity, the excitement of the FitzGerald era which liberalised our society and reset our relationship with the North and Britain for the better or the Bruton era which was marked by a commitment to Europe and financial responsibility.”
He praised Enda Kenny, the taoiseach and former Fine Gael leader, saying he had passed on a party and country in “a much better place” than it was when he took over in 2002.
“I want to thank him and his wife Fionnuala for being a tower of strength for so long,” Mr Varadkar said.
With weighted voting in place Mr Varadkar secured the majority of those in the parliamentary party, copperfastening his victory with an electorate worth 65 per cent but with just 73 members. Overall he got significantly fewer votes than Mr Coveney who won the lionshare of the grassroots membership.
Mr Varadkar denied the loss of the vote of the grassroots membership would split the party.
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“The overall outcome is clear and it has already been accepted graciously by Simon Coveney. I have no doubt the party will come behind me as leader.”
Attention will now turn to his cabinet appointments. With 54 members of the party having supported him, he will have a difficult task ensuring he rewards his supporters.
He said it would not be possible to “satisfy everyone” when he reshuffles the cabinet but confirmed he will speak to his main opponent today [SAT].
“I spoke to Simon Coveney earlier on, we are going to try to meet up and have a conversation. I think his stock has gone up in the party.
“As far as other positions I have not given any consideration to that yet. I have been elected Fine Gael leader but not yet as taoiseach so I have to have conversations with people.”
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He also revealed he spoke to Enda Kenny twice yesterday and that he hoped the former leader would continue to play a key role in the party.
“We ran into each other at breakfast and I spoke to him just after I was elected.
“We have agreed to talk again over the next few days about the transition. He is someone with enormous knowledge and experience but we didn’t get into the detail.”
Mr Varadkar confirmed he took a call from Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland’s former deputy first minister, the pair committed to working towards an agreement on Brexit and restoring powersharing in Northern Ireland.
Theresa May, the British prime minister, also congratulated him on his election.
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He will face his first major event on the international stage on June 22 at a crunch Brexit summit in Brussels but said he does not intend to punish Britain for leaving the EU.
“We are part of the 27 and we will continue to be at the heart of Europe. It remains the view of our party and the view of the government that we don’t want Britain to be punished.”
He also said he hoped the pay talks would conclude on time this month and revealed the new capital programme would be unveiled in the coming weeks and would be informed by some of his policy ideas.
In his concession speech, Mr Coveney acknowledged it had been a competitive and sometimes “sparky” contest.
“My message is very clear now; it is one of unity. This party needs to be stronger for this contest, not in any way divided. We are going to move on now having been through the changes of the last six years focusing on community and society as well as growing the economy,” the housing minister said.
He praised his opponent describing the new Fine Gael leader as a “worthy winner” of the contest.
“He has the potential to be a hugely successful leader of this party, he can broaden our horizons to successes we have not seen yet,” he said.
“I think Fine Gael has outdone itself. We have elected a new leader, it is a decisive result and we should all recognise that and move forward now and work to ensure this party gets stronger and make sure that Fine Gael politics makes this country a better place.”