Simon Harris, at the age of 37, has made history by becoming Ireland’s youngest ever prime minister on April 9. His appointment follows the unexpected resignation of Leo Varadkar last month, citing personal and political reasons.
With a vote of 88 to 69 in favor, Harris was officially instated in a ceremony alongside President Michael D. Higgins. As the leader of the center-right Fine Gael party, Harris faced no opposition in his election.
Despite his swift rise to power, Harris faces immediate challenges, including upcoming elections and pressing issues such as housing crises and opposition to migration. In his address to parliament, Harris emphasized his commitment to leading with unity, collaboration, and mutual respect, aiming to inject new ideas, energy, and empathy into public service.
Harris’s predecessor, Varadkar, expressed confidence in Harris’s ability to lead, praising his empathy, energy, experience, campaigning skills, and political intuition.
Varadkar, who held the position of the youngest prime minister upon his election in 2017, noted that Harris’s ascension might have come sooner than expected, but he believes Harris will rise to the occasion.
Harris’s political journey began early, as he joined Fine Gael’s youth branch at 16 and swiftly climbed the party ranks. Elected as a county councillor at 22, he entered parliament at 24, earning the nickname “Baby of the Dail.”
His ministerial career commenced at age 29 when he was appointed health minister in 2016, followed by serving as higher education minister in 2020.
Notably, Harris’s active presence on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, has contributed to his widespread visibility, making him one of the most recognizable figures in Irish politics.
