Leo Varadkar is set to become the first openly-gay prime minister of the Republic of Ireland, after winning the leadership election of the ruling Fine Gael party on Friday.  

Varadkar's election, which comes following outgoing prime minister Enda Kenny's resignation, "has come to embody the liberalization of a country," the BBC said. 

Ireland decriminalized homosexuality in 1993 and became the first country to adopt gay marriage in 2015. Varadkar was a prominent supporter. 

Leo Varadkar speaks at the Mansion House in Dublin where he was elected new leader of Fine Gael. /VCG Photo

Varadkar is in line to take over as Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) after the Irish parliament sits on June 13.

If elected, he will face challenges on how to boost the economy following financial downturn and how to manage Brexit.

Varadkar's father was a doctor from Mumbai who met his mother in Ireland where they settled and had Leo Varadkar in 1979. Varadkar later followed his father into medicine before he became a councilor at the age of 24 and in 2007, was elected to the Irish parliament.

 Varadkar was announced to be the elected Leader of Fine Gael on June 2. /VCG Photo

Varadkar has served as Minister of Social Protection since May 2016, and acted as Minister for Health and Minister for Transport, Tourism, and Sport.

"If my election today shows anything, it is that prejudice has no hold in this Republic," Varadkar said at the Dublin's Mansion House after winning the election.