Harris pledges ‘reset’ as he becomes Irish PM in waiting
ATHLONE, Ireland — Simon Harris became Irish prime minister in waiting on Sunday, pledging to help small businesses, focus on law and order and tackle migration after his unopposed election to succeed Leo Varadkar as leader of the governing Fine Gael party.
Harris, a 37-year-old minister best known for helping steer the country’s initial response to COVID-19, will be voted in as Ireland’s youngest-ever prime minister when parliament next sits on April 9 thanks to support from coalition partners.
He will have no more than a year to save the coalition from defeat in parliamentary elections. Polls for the last three years have put Sinn Fein, a left-wing party that backs unification with British-run Northern Ireland, as the favorite to head the next government.
“This is a moment for Fine Gael to reset,” Harris told hundreds of members at a packed party event in the town of Athlone.
“Under my leadership, Fine Gael stands for supporting businesses, especially small businesses … Fine Gael stands for supporting the family farm … Fine Gael stands for law and order.”
After months of speculation that Varadkar would opt for an early election later this year, Harris told reporters he intended to run a full term to March 2025.
Varadkar announced his departure to widespread shock on Wednesday, catching even his closest political allies by surprise, saying Fine Gael would stand a better chance of reelection under another leader.
Harris has spoken in recent days of how he became involved in politics as an “opinionated, moody teenager” annoyed at the lack of educational support for his autistic brother. He has sought to paint himself as an “accidental politician”, even though he has spent most of his adult life in parliament.
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” (Irish for prime minister).
While the economy grew strongly under Varadkar, successive governments, of which Harris has been part, have struggled to tackle a decadelong housing crisis and, more recently, the pressure from record numbers of asylum seekers and refugees.
Harris said Ireland needed to move to a “more planned, sustainable” migration model and a system that is “fair and firm”.
He is also under pressure from members to better define Fine Gael’s offering to voters.
“I do think he has to possibly focus back more on Fine Gael core values,” said party member Mary McDonagh, urging Harris to help struggling rural hospitality businesses and “disaffected” farmers.
Inheriting a three-party coalition government working off an agreed policy program will give Harris little room for any major new policy initiatives.