A 37-year-old Simon Harris of Indian heritage, stands on the cusp of becoming Ireland’s youngest prime minister. His recent appointment as the new leader of the ruling Fine Gael party marks a historic moment, following the unexpected resignation of his predecessor, Leo Varadkar.
Harris, in a heartfelt expression of gratitude, described his appointment as party leader as the “absolute honor of my life.” He steps into this significant role, succeeding Leo Varadkar, who unexpectedly resigned, emphasizing the party’s need for a new direction.
As reported by Al Jazeera, Harris, is poised to take on the role of Ireland’s youngest-ever prime minister, known as the taoiseach. As the parliament reconvenes on April 9, he will assume office with the backing of Fine Gael’s coalition partners.
Simon Harris, a 37-year-old of Indian descent, is poised to become Ireland's youngest prime minister after being selected as the new leader of the ruling Fine Gael party.
Expressing deep gratitude, Harris stated that being appointed as party leader was the "absolute honor of my… pic.twitter.com/lZ5xu1JWLB
— Mirror Now (@MirrorNow) March 25, 2024
Fine Gael’s deputy leader, Simon Coveney, lauded Simon Harris for securing comprehensive leadership support, affirming, “I think he’s done a really good job.”
Speaking to Fine Gael members, Harris made unwavering commitments. He vowed to reciprocate their trust through tireless effort, responsibility, and a humble approach.
His priorities were clear: reinforcing Fine Gael’s dedication to law and order, reclaiming the party’s distinct identity from nationalists, and advocating for a well-considered immigration policy while standing against populism.
Internationally, Simon Harris took a firm stance. He urged for a ceasefire in Gaza and strongly denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, labeling it as both “horrific” and “illegal” .
However, his task is no small feat: he must navigate the intricacies of maintaining the coalition’s vigor in upcoming parliamentary elections, all within a tight timeframe, As reported by Aljazeera.
Sinn Fein, a left-wing party championing the cause of unification with Northern Ireland, has witnessed a dip in its popularity according to recent polls. This shift in fortunes could indeed reshape the political terrain.
Meanwhile, Simon Harris, who previously held the position of Minister for Education, Research, and Science, rose to prominence due to his adept leadership during Ireland’s COVID-19 crisis.
Simon Harris, in contemplating his foray into politics, traced it back to his deep-seated concerns for his autistic brother’s educational well-being. He humorously dubbed himself an “accidental politician.”
Prior to Harris’s tenure, Leo Varadkar held the remarkable distinction of being Ireland’s youngest-ever leader. Varadkar served as prime minister from 2017 to 2020 and resumed office once more in December 2022.
Leo Varadkar, of Indian-Irish heritage, made headlines with his unexpected resignation, which was announced on Wednesday. His reasons spanned both personal and political realms, as reported by Al Jazeera. Notably, Varadkar had already etched his name in history as Ireland’s first openly gay and biracial prime minister.
ALSO READ | Italian PM Giorgia Meloni seeks over €100,000 in damages after AI-generated deepfake video surfaces online
