Opposition melts away in race to replace Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach.
March 21, 2024 3:05 pm CET
DUBLIN – Simon Harris is on course to become Ireland’s next prime minister after all his leading potential rivals announced they would not stand in his way.
Harris, 37, collected a slew of powerful endorsements Thursday from dozens of fellow lawmakers in his Fine Gael party following Leo Varadkar’s shock resignation the day before. Varadkar immediately stepped down as Fine Gael leader but will stay as Taoiseach until his successor can be approved by parliament.
The trio of other touted runners and riders — Trade Minister Simon Coveney, Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe — all declared they wouldn’t run, leaving the field wide open for Harris, the government’s minister for higher education.
His unassailable lead should simplify the transition from Varadkar, with Fine Gael due to formally select a successor at its annual conference on April 6, paving the way for Harris’ election as prime minister when Dáil Eireann, the key lower house of parliament, next convenes on April 9 following the Easter recess.
Harris was expected to make a formal announcement of his candidature Thursday.
Widely liked within Fine Gael ranks, Harris is seen as a sharp-edged debater in his verbal sparring with the Sinn Féin opposition — a good quality with local and European elections looming in June and a general election an uncertain matter of months away.