section_path: Taoiseach (2020–2022)
section_name: Taoiseach (2020–2022)
paragraph_text: Taoiseach (2020–2022)
  
  On 27 June 2020, Martin was elected as Taoiseach, in a historic coalition agreement that saw his party Fianna Fáil go into government with the Green Party and Fianna Fáil's historical rivals, Fine Gael. A majority of 93 members of the Dáil voted in favour of him taking the role, while 63 members voted against him. As part of the agreement, Varadkar became Tánaiste in Martin's government, and swapped roles with Martin in December 2022, approximately two-and-a-half years into the five-year parliamentary term.
  
  In July 2020, following drunk-driving revelations, he sacked Barry Cowen as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Cowen's successor Dara Calleary resigned that August following the Golfgate scandal, having attended a social hosted by the Oireachtas Golf Society which was contrary to national health guidelines surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  In July 2021, Fianna Fáil suffered what many sources called the party's worst-ever electoral defeat when the party polled extremely poorly in the 2021 Dublin Bay South by-election. Subsequently, there was much unrest within Fianna Fáil, with a number of TDs such as Jim O'Callaghan, Cathal Crowe, James Lawless and Marc MacSharry openly questioning in public whether or not Martin should lead the party into the next general election.
  
  Late on 16 March 2022, Martin tested positive for COVID-19 while he was at an event in Washington, D.C., United States, being held for St Patrick's Day. This meant Martin could not personally meet President of the United States Joe Biden at the White House as planned the next day. Biden and Martin met virtually instead, with Martin isolating in Blair House. Unable to return to Ireland as planned, Martin planned to chair the next cabinet meeting from the Irish embassy in Washington.
  
  Martin made an official visit to Ukraine in July 2022 amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This was the first official visit made by a Taoiseach to Ukraine. Martin stated he would provide support for Ukraine joining the European Union and condemned attacks on civilians.
  
  As part of the 2020 coalition agreement between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, Martin resigned as Taoiseach on 17 December 2022 to allow the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach and the formation of a new government, which will be a continuation of the tri-party coalition for the remainder of the 33rd Dáil.