On March 20, 2024, Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar announced that he would be stepping down, saying that the country's coalition government "would stand a better chance of reelection under another leader."[1] Varadkar's surprise resignation comes after Ireland overwhelmingly voted against constitutional reforms changing women's role in the home, and extending the legal definition of family to include durable relationships outside marriage.
White supremacists championed the cause, linking the proposed reforms concerning women as anti-women and part of an LGBTQ+ agenda. They claimed that the clause formalizing the rights of those in "durable relationships" was a loophole to increase the number of immigrants able to move to Ireland on the basis of family ties. White supremacists arranged leafleting campaigns and protests against the changes in front of major government buildings. These individuals were extremely active online as well, with white supremacist podcasters persistently posting about the referendum on Telegram, Gab, and X, and hosting livestreams on Odysee, YouTube, and other streaming platforms.
Upon Varadkar's announcement, white supremacists celebrated his resignation on Telegram and X. This report will provide an overview of Irish white supremacists' reactions to Taoiseach Varadkar's resignation.
White Supremacists Celebrate The Resignation Of Taoiseach Varadkar; Encourage Irish Citizens To Take Advantage Of Changing Political Landscape: "Woke Is Dead"
An Irish white supremacist account posted a photo of Leo Varadkar with a canceled icon over his face and the words, "Woke Is Dead." The group encouraged people to run for political office to help "bury" woke politics: "Woke is dead. Its [sic] time to bury it. Sign up as an independent candidate for the your [sic] area in the local elections at [redacted]."
An Irish white supremacist party called for its followers to get offline and take real-world action to change the political landscape of Ireland: "Leo Varadkar nearly in tears as he flees the consequences of his disastrous governance. They have reduced our people to tenant serfs, sacrificed our state to foreign ideology, and opened our doors to the spillover of the third world. Will you let them do it again, or will you fight for, and vote for, real opposition?"
An anti-immigration Irish X user posted a meme suggesting that Taoiseach Varadkar's resignation marks a cultural shift in Ireland away from liberal politics and back towards traditional Irish values.
A member of an Irish white supremacist party commented on Varadkar's resignation and stated that this party will provide a clean slate for Irish politics: "The rats are fleeing the sinking ship, but don't be deceived. Leo is crew expendable for the Regime – we need to CLEAR THEM OUT! The [redacted] will do so."
Irish White Supremacists And Ethno-Nationalists Defame Taoiseach Varadkar; Allege That His Resignation Stems From Discovery Of Pedophilia Or Other Crimes
An Irish white supremacist and anti-government extremist posted an RTÉ News article and simply captioned it, "159 left," referring to the remaining members of the lower house of the Irish legislature (Oireachtas). While this particular post was not remarkable, this extremist has curated a violent, vitriolic Telegram channel, and his comments are often filled with hatred, threats of violence, and allegations against Varadkar's character. Several violent threats were issued, one of which called for Varadkar's lynching: "A lovely ceremony recently imported into Ireland that Varadkar deserves for all his work a wreath of burning rubber round his neck. 'Necklacing.'"
One commentor suggested that Varadkar be sexually assaulted, and then hanged, as punishment.
[1]Reuters.com/world/europe/irelands-varadkar-step-down-pm-irish-independent-reports-2024-03-20/#:~:text=DUBLIN%2C%20March%2020%20(Reuters),of%20reelection%20under%20another%20leader, March 20, 2024.
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