Simon Harris was elected leader of Ireland's center-right Fine Gael party on Sunday (March 24), paving the way for him to become the country's prime minister. This election “is the honor of my life”, reacted Simon Harris after the proclamation of the result by a party official during a rally in Athlone, west of Dublin.
He was the only candidate to lead the party and succeed Leo Varadkar, who resigned on Wednesday, to everyone's surprise, as head of Fine Gael and his post as prime minister.
Fine Gael and its government coalition partners (Fianna Fail and the Green Party) form a majority in the Dail, the Irish parliament. Simon Harris will therefore be able to become Prime Minister on April 9, when parliament resumes.
Youngest “taoiseach”
At 37, Simon Harris will thus be the youngest “taoiseach” [head of government in Gaelic] in the history of Ireland, ahead of Leo Varadkar, who was 38 when he first became Prime Minister, in 2017.
Simon Harris was Minister for Higher Education in the government led by Leo Varadkar. The latter announced his departure on Wednesday, believing “no longer to be the best person for this position”. Leo Varadkar, 45, cited “political and personal reasons” for this departure, a few weeks before the European elections and a year before the scheduled date of the legislative elections.
In his first speech as party leader, Simon Harris said it was “the time for Fine Gael to renew its commitment to the people”. “There’s a lot to do in the coming months,” he said. He promised to support businesses, “especially small businesses” and “make work pay.” He also said he was “proudly pro-European”.
