His name is Simon Harris, he is 37 years old, he is Irish and he fell into politics like Obelix in the magic potion, at a very young age. If the man who is to become head of government in a few days only had his first account on the networks well after his first moped, in 2009, he has largely made up for it since then. After Twitter, Facebook and Insta, Simon Harris now posts regularly on TikTok. He has also created a little notoriety on the Chinese platform.
Many media present Simon Harris as the TikToker who will become Prime Minister. This is not quite how it works since the politician has been in business since 2011 and on TikTok since March 24, 2021. It is also the anniversary of his three years on this social network that he was appointed leader of his party, Fine Gael. His first video on the Chinese platform is also the one with the most views, 1.1 million, with the dozens of others published since peaking on average at a few tens of thousands of views. To finish with the numbers, Simon Harris has 94,000 followers on TikTok, and nearly two million “likes”.
“Lol” videos but not too much
In addition to his “Mary at all costs” brushing, most of Simon Harris’ videos have in common that they serve as political support. We see him here visiting a school in Cork, there in another in Meath, in Louth… Or even during a meeting with Ukrainian students who have taken refuge in Ireland. Photo slides set to dramatic music. The future Prime Minister has also published numerous videos in which he speaks in front of the camera, particularly on Covid-19. Not as Minister of Health, but as Minister of Higher Education, and mainly to provide practical information to students.
Until 2022, the year during which Harris was in both Higher Education and Justice, he still published a few lol videos of his dog, morning routine, Christmas soup recipe, gay pride parade… After this date, he instead goes on face-cams in a suit and addresses serious subjects: the convention on student housing, the reduction of tuition fees, apprenticeship in the agricultural field, budget vote… So many videos which barely accumulate more than 20,000 views on average.
Tea, office and family photos
He made his best scores in his first ten videos, when he makes tea, when he films his office, when he shows family photos and, even so, when he talks about the law on student grants . Her last big audience success dates back to February 29, when he published an extract from a television interview in which he announced a tax credit for parents who pay the rent of their student child.
Perhaps he will have more success as a TikTok Prime Minister as suggested his latest video, published when he became the boss of his party. “I want you to know that if I am given the honor to serve, I will work day and night, night and day,” he said. Will he still have time to make TikToks?