Simon Harris is set to become the new leader of Ireland’s Fine Gael party after no other candidates ran in the leadership contest. Harris, who is the current Minister for Further and Higher Education, is expected to replace Leo Varadkar, who announced his resignation as party leader and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) on Wednesday. Although nominations were to close on Monday, they were brought forward by 24 hours.
A memo was sent to Fine Gael politicians on Friday that said the announcement of the party leader would be made at the conclusion of the party’s Midlands North West European selection convention in Athlone on Sunday. It added that if only one person is nominated, the returning officer will confirm that person as party leader. Harris has a clear run to the top job after other ministers who were viewed as potential competitors ruled themselves out.
He was the early favourite, with many backing the 37-year-old before nominations even opened. Ministers Helen McEntee, Paschal Donohoe, and Heather Humphreys were among those to throw their support behind Mr Harris. Speaking on Friday, he said he was “overwhelmed and honoured” by the support he had received over the past few days.
Mr Varadkar’s resignation paved the way for a party leadership contest, but as he heads the current coalition government alongside Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in Dublin, his successor is also expected to take over as Taoiseach. At 37, Harris is set to make history as Ireland’s youngest Taoiseach, taking over the top role a year younger than his predecessor did in 2017. He first entered the Dáil (lower house of Irish parliament) over a decade ago at the age of 24 as TD (MP) for Wicklow.
Harris has had a rapid rise through the party ranks, landing his first cabinet role as health minister five years later in 2016. In this role, he oversaw the Republic of Ireland’s vote to overturn its abortion ban and the country’s cervical cancer screening scandal. He also oversaw the initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic, before he was replaced when the new coalition government formed in 2020. He has since been Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science, and briefly took on the Justice portfolio
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More