Ireland’s Green Party elects integration minister O’Gorman as new leader

DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland’s Green Party, the smallest part of the three-party governing coalition, elected integration minister Roderic O’Gorman as its new leader on Monday as it bids to boost a decline in support ahead of an election in the coming months.

Retiring leader Eamon Ryan has said his decision to stand down was not related to relatively poor results in elections last month when the party lost around half of its local council seats and both of its members of the European parliament.

O’Gorman, a former law lecturer from west Dublin and LGBTI rights activist, is minister for children, equality, disability, integration and youth. He has led Ireland’s response to accommodating a record number of asylum seekers.

He narrowly defeated junior minister Pippa Hackett who had campaigned to boost the party’s fortunes among rural voters.

Ireland’s next general election must be held by March 2025, and analysts expect the government to hold it before the end of this year.