Leo Varadkar, the Minister for Social Protection, will officially launch his campaign to become the next leader of Fine Gael on Saturday, according to his website campaignforleo.ie.

He and Minister for Housing, Environment and Local Government, Simon Coveney, are now in a two-horse race to become the next leader of the party.

A number of TDs have given their support to Varadkar, including Sean Kyne, Joe McHugh and Pat Deering.

Meanwhile, TDs Simon Harris, Damien English and Senator Tim Lombard lent their votes to Coveney at his campaign launch this morning.

A third candidate is not expected to run for the position and a number of leading figures in the party have ruled themselves out of contention.

Frances Fitzgerald, Tánaiste and Justice Minister, announced earlier this morning that entering the contest isn’t the right decision for her and Finance Minister, Michael Noonan, resigned from his position while also stating he did not wish to be considered for a position in the next Cabinet.

The Minister for Education, Richard Bruton, was next to rule himself out of the contest and instead said he will be supporting Varadkar.

How will the new leader be decided?

A weighted voting system will be used with the parliamentary party, councillors and party members voting.

The votes of TDs, Senators and MEPs will have more weight than the votes of councillors and party members.

Breakdown of voting weights

  • Parliamentary party (TDs, Senators, MEPs) - 65%.
  • Party members - 25%.
  • Councillors - 10%.

    • The next leader of Fine Gael is to be decided by close of play on 2 June.