TikTok Taoiseach': Simon Harris set to be Ireland's youngest PM
Simon Harris, recently appointed as leader of his party on 24 March, is set to make history as Ireland's youngest prime minister. With elections on the horizon, he is relying on his expertise in social media and youthful appearance to rejuvenate his party's popularity.
A man of 37 years old has earned the nickname "TikTok Taoiseach" from the media. This is the title for the Irish prime minister, which is pronounced "Tee-shock". He has broken the record set by his predecessor, Leo Varadkar, who became the top leader aged 38 years old in 2017.
Following Varadkar's unexpected resignation on Wednesday, Harris immediately entered the competition to lead the center-right Fine Gael party (which is affiliated with the EPP). If he is victorious in the leadership race, he will automatically assume the role of prime minister.
On Wednesday, Leo Varadkar announced that he would be resigning as the Prime Minister of Ireland and the leader of the Fine Gael party. This news came as a shock and he cited personal as well as political reasons for his decision.
By the time Thursday's lunch break arrived, he had gained the support of most of his party peers, causing his opponents to withdraw their candidacy. His official appointment was then verified on Sunday.
Harris promised his fellow party members that he will repay their trust through persistent effort and determination, putting in a lot of time, effort, and hard work, while being accountable, modest, and respectful.
The new leader intends to prioritize "lawfulness and stability," designing a more organized and long-lasting approach to immigration, and battling against the perils of populism.
Harris' certain appointment as taoiseach, occurring when the Dail resumes on April 9, signifies an outstanding rise to power.
He was born in 1986 and was raised in Greystones, a quaint seaside village that lies close to Dublin. His father was a taxi driver by profession.
He decided to quit his journalism and French course at a college in Dublin after completing one year. This was so that he could fully focus on his political career that was already heading in a positive direction.
Harris joined the political sphere through his efforts to advocate for autism-related services to benefit his younger brother who has the condition. Eventually, he established his own philanthropic organization.
At the age of 16, he became a member of Fine Gael's youth branch. He advanced up the party's hierarchy in no time.
When he was 22 years old, he served as a county councillor, and later on, at the age of 24, he became a member of parliament in 2011. He was called the "Baby of the Dail" because he was the youngest person to hold this position at the time.
In 2016, when he was only 29 years old, he was selected to become the minister responsible for health.
During a 2022 interview with Hot Press magazine, he expressed that his career has been somewhat unusual, and that he was taken by surprise at how quickly life came at him.
For over four years, Harris held the position of health minister and even worked through the Covid pandemic. Despite facing backlash due to nursing home fatalities and making occasional slip-ups, his ability to communicate effectively was commended.
According to him, at times he can behave like a disagreeable and foolish elderly individual. He made this statement right after commenting that Covid-19 pertains to 18 preceding coronaviruses and not the year it initially emerged.
Harris got caught up in a contentious situation involving the construction of new hospitals. The opposition party was considering a vote of no confidence due to the overcrowding in hospital wards. This prompted Varadkar to decide to hold an election in 2020. Unfortunately, Fine Gael's popularity took a hit and they ended up in third place.
Harris is a man with two kids and a wife who works as a cardiac nurse. He's very well-known on social media, particularly TikTok, which has made him a high-profile figure in Irish politics.
Since 2020, he has held the position of minister for higher education and it is widely acknowledged, even by his detractors, that he possesses excellent communication skills.
Harris has an immense fan following of nearly 1.4 million on TikTok and a considerable number of followers on X and Instagram. He frequently uploads content to his followers on a daily basis.
However, certain videos and statements made by him have been viewed as overly attempting to acquire the attention of the youth populace.
In a heated session of the parliamentary committee, Harris advised the members to calm down by saying, "Relax - I believe everyone should just take a moment to pause."
The following day, while in Parliament, he mentioned that all the youth were already familiar with the term "chillax".
Because he is young and a great communicator, his rivals mock him by calling him "Leo 2.0". They believe he represents a style of politics that is more focused on urban areas and disconnected from the general public.
However, his passionate supporters believe that his energy and excitement could give Fine Gael a boost. Currently, Fine Gael is in third place in the polls with only 10 weeks until the local and European Parliament elections. Additionally, a general election is expected within the next year.
"According to a fellow party member's statement to the Irish Times, he possesses immense drive and lofty aspirations."
Another individual described him as attractive, clever, and cunning.
