For IRISH politics, he is right of centre, but the main 3 or 4 parties are Social Democratic parties, for the most part. And Varadkar fits into that. His father (also a medical doctor) was interviewed on the evening news tonight, and asked what he wished for his son, as Taoiseach. He replied that he would like to see him "look after the poorest of the poor" - that's the type of family he comes from. You're viewing "progressive" from an American point of view, whereas we in Ireland, are still coming out of 1922 Civil War politics, which is neither Left or Right. We have rumps of the Right and Left.
Do you still hold it over President Obama and Hillary Clinton that they opposed Gay Marriage, and then moved their position ? If not, why can't Varadkar ?
This is what he said on Gay Marriage and Gay Adoption in 2015
But Mr Varadkar insisted that any change of opinion was in matters of emphasis. "I think, like a lot of people, my views have moved on in the past five years. I want to point out though that it was a speech in favour of civil partnership, and I called for it to go further including limited adoption rights for same-sex couples. I now support full equality on the matter," the Health Minister told the Irish Independent.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/referendum-is-not-about-me-or-adoption-says-varadkar-30933376.html
On abortion, he is generally pro-life (apart from threats to the life of the mother etc), but one of his first acts this evening is to announce that
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed there will be a referendum on the Eight Amendment to the Constitution on abortion next year.
He said Minister for Health Simon Harris would be responsible for bringing forward legislation to allow for the referendum on the amendment, which gives an equal right to life to the mother and the unborn.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/abortion-referendum-to-be-held-next-year-varadkar-says-1.3119981
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