Simon Harris To Become Ireland's Youngest Prime Minister

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Facts

  • The Republic of Ireland's (ROI) higher education minister Simon Harris, 37, having been appointed leader of the governing Fine Gael party on Sunday, is set to become the country's youngest-ever prime minister (taoiseach).1
  • Harris replaces Leo Varadkar, who himself became ROI's youngest taoiseach having been first elected at age 38. Varadkar, also the country's first openly gay and biracial taoiseach, announced his resignation last week.2
  • Harris joined Fine Gael at 16 years old, before becoming a county councillor at age 22, and a member of parliament at age 24. Harris secured majority support from his party on Thursday after all other candidates pulled out of the race.3
  • Following confirmation of his appointment as party leader, Harris said he would pursue a "more planned and sustainable" immigration policy, and "fight against the dangers of populism."4
  • Harris also pledged to "reset" his party, support small businesses and farmers, and focus on law and order. He will be voted in as the taoiseach when the ROI's parliament [Oireachtas] resumes on April 9.5

Sources: 1The Guardian, 2Associated Press, 3NDTV, 4Al Jazeera and 5Reuters.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Independent. As the youngest person ever to lead the Republic of Ireland, Simon Harris — a county councilor at 22, a junior minister at 27, and health minister at 29 — will bring in fresh energy and new ideas. Full of ambition and responsible for strong leadership during multiple crises, Ireland and Fine Gael will meet challenging times with hope and determination under the youthful Harris.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Financial Times. Harris, the "TikTok taoiseach," is an opportunist trying too hard to appeal to the younger generation. However, his metropolitan style of politics and over-enthusiasm will fail to save his party's flagging fortunes. Inheriting a dwindling three-party coalition government and a party down in the polls, Harris will have little room to make significant policy changes and defeat Sinn Féin at the next parliamentary elections.

Predictions