Simon Harris (37 years old, married with two young children) has been confirmed by the Irish Parliament (Dáil) as the youngest prime minister in the country's history. Almost a total unknown in Brussels, Washington, Belfast and London, he defines himself as socially progressive and economically conservative. The party he leads, Fine Gael, is part of the European People's Party.
He is only guaranteed one year in power, until the next general elections are held, scheduled if they are not brought forward for March 2025, and in the face of which Sinn Féin (the former political arm of the IRA) clearly commands the polls due to the housing crisis (there is a lack of apartments, and those that are sold or rented are at Manhattan prices), health care, infrastructure and the deterioration of public services. In recent years, Ireland has invested very little in these chapters, thinking that it would take longer to recover from the financial crisis, the impact of Brexit and the pandemic than has happened in reality, and the result is considerable erosion of the establishment and the search for alternatives by voters.
Known as the TikTok taoiseach for his mastery of social media, the son of a taxi driver and a teacher dedicated to educating children with disabilities, Harris entered politics at a very young age asking for help for a brother with Asperger's syndrome. After studying French and journalism, in 2011 he entered Parliament as the youngest deputy, and was soon appointed Minister of Health. Currently he was in Education.
After the unexpected resignation of Leo Varadkar at the head of Fine Gael, he skillfully maneuvered to become his successor and inherit the position of prime minister, leading a coalition with Fianna Fail (centre left) and the Greens. He assumes command of a country in transition, which has just defeated in a referendum a constitutional reform to modernize the definition of the role of women in society and the concept of family, with the countryside angry about measures to combat climate change and a advance of the xenophobic extreme right that resists the arrival of immigrants. In recent months there have been violent incidents.
His rivals admit that he is “mechanically and logistically brilliant,” but they criticize him for his lack of a defined ideology and political identity. Harris says his goals are to “fight populism, stop Sinn Féin, build housing, ensure law and order, and equal opportunities. “And above all – he says – to show everyone that Ireland is not a second-class country today.”
