Parents have high hopes for taoiseach
LEO VARADKAR’S father is a self-proclaimed socialist, who wants his son to look after the most vulnerable in society – not just those who get up early in the morning.
The Taoiseach-inwaiting’s parents, Miriam and Ashok, also hope that people will now focus on their son’s political life rather than his sexuality.
He has been criticised for his right-wing leaning views, however, it appears he didn’t get them from his father.
‘I want him to look after the most vulnerable... to work for those who need help. He shouldn’t forget about those people,’ Ashok Varadkar said.
‘If I have had any political influence on him over the years, that’s the only one thing.
‘I’m a socialist,’ Ashok added in an interview with the Irish Times. Meanwhile, Miriam took issue with headlines on her son’s sexuality.
She said: ‘Why can’t they just write on the newspaper: “Handsome, beautiful 38-year-old doctor becomes the prime minister of Ireland.” Why can’t they write that? I don’t like it. When is it going to die down? When are they going to look at his achievements other than being gay?’ she said.
They also spoke about their disbelief when an adolescent Leo joined young Fine Gael.
‘He was adorable, a gorgeous baby and then he went into Fine Gael. And that’s it,’ his mother said.