Harris, who has been described as a rising star within the Fine Gael party, is set to become the youngest-ever premier of Ireland next month. The 37-year-old secured the leadership of the party on Sunday, following the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar. Harris, who currently serves as the further and higher education minister in the coalition government, was the only candidate to put his name forward to succeed Varadkar. He is expected to be formally elected as premier in the Irish parliament in early April after lawmakers return from their Easter break.
In his victory speech in Athlone, Harris emphasized the need for Fine Gael to reconnect with the people and to fight against populist forces in Irish politics. He declared the party as proudly pro-European, condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. While Harris did not mention the coalition government specifically, he has previously stated that he will remain committed to the program for government agreed upon with partners Fianna Fail and the Green Party. Although he has not ruled out a general election this year, Harris emphasized that it is not his priority at the moment.
Meanwhile, Varadkar, who announced his resignation last week, has had two spells as taoiseach and has been a prominent figure in Irish politics. Varadkar was elected as the country’s youngest-ever leader at the age of 38 and is also known as Ireland’s first openly gay prime minister. He played a key role in leading campaigns to legalize same-sex marriage and repeal a ban on abortion in Ireland. Varadkar also led the country during the tumultuous years following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, which had significant implications for Ireland due to its border with the U.K.’s Northern Ireland.
During Varadkar’s leadership, U.K.-Ireland relations were strained, particularly when Boris Johnson was the UK leader and a hardcore Brexit supporter. However, relations have improved since Rishi Sunak became the U.K. Prime Minister. Varadkar’s resignation marks the end of an era in Irish politics, and Harris will now take over the leadership of Fine Gael and likely become the new premier of Ireland. Harris has expressed his commitment to leading the party and continuing the work of the coalition government while also addressing important issues such as the conflict in Ukraine and Gaza. As Ireland moves forward with a new leader, it remains to be seen how Harris will navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the country.
