Ireland: deputy PM resigns - but is election crisis averted?
Varadkar’s minority government weakened by no-confidence threat

Frances Fitzgerald resigned as Ireland’s deputy prime minister today following a row that has threatened to bring down the country's minority government and create chaos for Brexit negotiators.
Fitzgerald says she is quitting for the sake of the country and to avoid a general election, Irish broadcaster RTE reports. Her departure comes hours ahead of a parliamentary no-confidence vote brought by opposition party Fianna Fail, who had demanded Fitzgerald's resignation over her handling of a police whistle-blowing scandal.
The row escalated last night following the publication of correspondence from the Department of Justice questioning her version of events relating to the inquiry into allegations of police malpractice.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Tonight's no-confidence vote threatened Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar’s minority government and would probably have led to Irish elections in December or January - creating further problems for the UK, since Brexit negotiators need to agree on the Irish border question before talks can turn to UK-EU trade.
Fine Gael sources told The Irish Times that Fitzgerald's resignation handed Fianna Fail a “significant win” and damaged Prime Minister Varadkar.
“Even if the immediate threat of an election has been removed, the crisis has significantly weakened the government and damaged trust between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which supports the minority government with a confidence-and-supply arrangement,” the newspaper says.
Fitzgerald was under pressure over her handling of a case involving Maurice McCabe, a Garda whistle-blower, while she was justice minister. Fitzgerald says she was unaware of a strategy by the former police commissioner to question the integrity and credibility of McCabe at the commission examining the police corruption allegations.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Nepal chooses toddler as its new ‘living goddess’
Under the Radar Girls between two and four are typically chosen to live inside the temple as the Kumari – until puberty strikes
-
October 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include half-truth hucksters, Capitol lockdown, and more
-
Jaguar Land Rover’s cyber bailout
Talking Point Should the government do more to protect business from the ‘cyber shockwave’?
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations