After announcing his resignation
Will Minister Harris become the new head of government in Ireland?
Simon Harris could become Ireland’s new head of government. photo
© Brian Lawless/PA Wire/dpa
Paschal Donohoe, Heather Humphreys and Simon Harris are considered possible successors to outgoing Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Several MPs already have a favorite.
After the surprising one Following Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s announcement of his resignation, his party colleague Simon Harris is considered the favorite to succeed him.
Several MPs from Varadkar’s Fine Gael in the Irish and European Parliaments publicly spoke out in favor of the 37-year-old as the new party leader and thus the future Taoiseach, as the office of Prime Minister is officially called in Irish. However, the incumbent Minister for Universities, Science and Research has not yet officially announced his candidacy.
Varadkar had announced his resignation, surprising his own party and his coalition partners Fianna Fail and the Greens. The 45-year-old referred to personal and private reasons for the step, which the media in the EU country described as a “political earthquake”.
More candidates
In addition to Harris, Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and head of the Eurogroup, and Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection and Rural Development, are also considered possible candidates. Business and former foreign minister Simon Coveney and justice minister Helen McEntee have already announced their renunciation.
The leader of the largest opposition party Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald, called for a new election. The decision about the next head of government should not be made by one party, she said. After Varadkar’s announcement, all coalition partners immediately emphasized that an early election was not necessary. The next regular parliamentary election must take place no later than spring 2025.