Simon Harris became Ireland’s youngest-ever prime minister on Tuesday, pledging to bring new ideas and energy to the less than 12 months during which he boosted the coalition government’s bid to halt a first electoral victory by left-wing Sinn Fein.
The 37-year-old former health and higher education minister, best known for helping steer the initial response to COVID-19, was elected unopposed as leader of Fine Gael last month, all but assuring he would succeed Leo Varadkar as the 16th person to lead the country following his predecessor’s shock exit.
“Now is an opportune time to build a new social contract—one which renews our promise as a Republic. To create equality of opportunity. To support those who need the state the most. To protect our hard-earned economic success. To use its benefits to deliver tangible outcomes to society,” Harris said after the vote.
“And as Taoiseach, I pledge to guard and honour my role as protector and guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We have so much more to achieve for all communities on this island. And I look forward to working very much with the Northern Ireland Executive, because Ireland must never take peace or freedom for granted,” he emphasized.
Harris, who quit university aged 20 to work as a political aide and was elected to parliament at 24 and appointed to cabinet before he turned 30, is a year younger than Varadkar was when he was first appointed prime minister in 2017.
He is one of Ireland’s most visible government ministers and a strong media performer. His keen social media presence led one opponent in parliament to dub Harris the “TikTok Taoiseach”.
Former Irish PM Leo Varadkar announced his decision to step down at the end of March for, as he said, “personal and political” reasons.
“Now is an opportune time to build a new social contract—one which renews our promise as a Republic. To create equality of opportunity. To support those who need the state the most. To protect our hard-earned economic success. To use its benefits to deliver tangible outcomes to society,” Harris said after the vote.
“And as Taoiseach, I pledge to guard and honour my role as protector and guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We have so much more to achieve for all communities on this island. And I look forward to working very much with the Northern Ireland Executive, because Ireland must never take peace or freedom for granted,” he emphasized.
Harris, who quit university aged 20 to work as a political aide and was elected to parliament at 24 and appointed to cabinet before he turned 30, is a year younger than Varadkar was when he was first appointed prime minister in 2017.
He is one of Ireland’s most visible government ministers and a strong media performer. His keen social media presence led one opponent in parliament to dub Harris the “TikTok Taoiseach”.
Former Irish PM Leo Varadkar announced his decision to step down at the end of March for, as he said, “personal and political” reasons.
Source: TVP World, Reuters
