Harris pledges 'reset' as he becomes Irish PM in waiting

investing.com:

By Graham Fahy and Padraic Halpin

ATHLONE, Ireland (Reuters) -Simon Harris became Irish prime minister in waiting on Sunday, pledging to help small business, focus on law and order and tackle migration after his unopposed election to succeed Leo Varadkar as leader of the governing Fine Gael party.

Harris, a 37-year-old minister best known for helping steer the country's initial response to COVID-19, will be voted in as Ireland's youngest ever prime minister when parliament next sits on April 9 thanks to support from coalition partners.

He will have no more than a year to save the coalition from defeat at parliamentary elections. Polls for the last three years have put Sinn Fein, a left-wing party that backs unification with British-run Northern Ireland, as the favourite to head the next government.

«This is a moment for Fine Gael to reset,» Harris told hundreds of members at a packed party event in the midlands town of Athlone.

«Under my leadership, Fine Gael stands for supporting businesses, especially small businesses… Fine Gael stands for supporting the family farm… Fine Gael stands for law and order, on the side of An Garda Siochána (police), where our streets are safe and crime is never allowed go unchecked.»

Varadkar announced his departure to widespread shock on Wednesday, catching even his closest political allies by surprise, saying Fine Gael would stand a better chance of re-election under another leader.

Harris has spoken in recent days of how he became involved in politics as an «opinionated, moody teenager» annoyed at the lack of educational supports for his autistic brother. He has sought to paint himself as an «accidental politician», even though he has spent most of his adult life in parliament.

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