Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has announced his resignation, in a surprise move.

Speaking to journalists outside government buildings in Dublin on Wednesday, Varadkar said he would resign as soon as his successor could take up office.

The resignation follows several failed woke referendums, one of which sought to remove a constitutional reference to a “woman’s” life “within the home” and recognize the value of “care” provided to others within the home. The other aimed to redefine the “family” as being based on “durable relationships” as well as marriage.

Varadkar, who once boasted about the waning influence of the Catholic Church in Irish society, first took office in 2017, after being elected leader of the Fine Gael party. He is the country’s youngest prime minister and Ireland’s first gay leader.