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08th Nov 2018

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admits he’s not a natural politician

Tony Cuddihy

Leo Varadkar Sinn Féin

Quite the admission from Leo Varadkar, the man at the head of the Irish Government.

Leo Varadkar has admitted that he’s not the most natural politician in the world, but that he’s become better at meeting people and ‘pressing the flesh’.

Ireland’s Taoiseach is our guest this week on Ireland Unfiltered with Dion Fanning, and he told the show’s host that he’s had to learn a lot about the art of politics as he has climbed to the highest office in Government Buildings.

“I’ve always been interested in politics, even when I was a kid,” he told the show’s host.

“Interested in elections, very interested in policy, very interested in examining problems and seeing how we can solve them.

“I suppose I’ve had to learn the other element of politics, which is – I don’t think gladhanding is the term, but… you know, the kind of art of politics.”

The Dubliner admits small talk has never been his strong suit, but he has come to accept it as part of politics.

“Sort of going out there, shaking hands, small talk, posing for photographs, that type of thing that didn’t come naturally. My friends and colleagues tell me I’ve got much better at it down the years, but I’m not a natural in that sense.”

Watch the full show here…