Simon Harris is on track to replace Leo Varadkar as Ireland’s next Taoiseach.
The Fine Gael leader announced his shock resignation on Wednesday, leaving room for the Minister for Further and Higher Education to take his spot.
Other frontrunners to take over from Leo – including Trade Minister Simon Coveney, Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe – have all pulled themselves out of the race.
Mr Harris has already received a number of endorsements from fellow politicians on social media.
In a post shared on X, Helen McEntee described him as a “great colleague” and “great communicator”.
She wrote: “I am confirming my support for @SimonHarrisTD as the next leader of
@FineGael. A great colleague, a great communicator, I know he will bring huge energy to this important role.”
I am confirming my support for @SimonHarrisTD as the next leader of @FineGael. A great colleague, a great communicator, I know he will bring huge energy to this important role.
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) March 21, 2024
The 37-year-old is expected to announce his plan to run for Taoiseach later today.
If he succeeds Leo, he will become Ireland’s youngest ever head of Government.
Rival candidates will have until Monday to enter the race.
The Wicklow native became a TD in 2011 when he was just 24, and previously served as Minister of State at the Department of Finance from 2014 – 2016.
However, he experienced a surge in public popularity during the pandemic, when he served as the country’s Minister for Health.
