Ireland’s Fine Gael party has appointed Simon Harris as its new leader, setting the stage for him to become the youngest Taoiseach in Irish history at 37 years old, succeeding former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
Varadkar unexpectedly resigned on Wednesday, citing a mix of personal and political reasons, with a focus on political factors.
He had made waves in 2017 when he became Ireland’s youngest prime minister at the time, at the age of 38.
Accepting the leadership at a Fine Gael party conference in Athlone, West Meath, Harris expressed deep gratitude, calling it the greatest honor of his life.
He thanked party members and communities across Ireland for their trust, promising to work tirelessly and responsibly.
Harris praised Varadkar’s exceptional leadership, acknowledging his contributions in dealing with challenges like Brexit and COVID-19, as well as his role in driving social change in Ireland since 2010.
Harris, previously Ireland’s minister for further and higher education and a former health minister from May 2016 to June 2020, is now set to take on the role of leading Fine Gael and potentially becoming the country’s next Taoiseach.
Source-CNN
