Simon Harris becomes Ireland's youngest prime minister
Following a vote in the Irish parliament, 37-year-old Simon Harris has been elected to the seat vacated by former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Harris has earned the title of the country's youngest prime minister.
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In Ireland, a vote was held in parliament to determine the new prime minister following the resignation of former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. In the vote, 37-year-old Simon Harris was elected as the country's new prime minister with 88 votes to 69. Harris has earned the title of the country's youngest prime minister.
In a statement made via his social media account, Harris expressed that he felt a "deep honor" to be prime minister and promised to work every day to realize the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of the Irish people.
In his speech to parliament after the vote, Harris identified housing as the biggest social issue. Harris promised to "act decisively" on the climate crisis and to prioritize rural and regional development.
WILL CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA
Touching upon Israel's ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, Harris condemned the Israeli government's "disproportionate response," stating, "We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
We are also seeing innocent children, women, and men being starved and slaughtered," he said. Harris also stated that he would use Ireland's position in the European Union to call for a ceasefire.
Harris, who was previously the Minister for Further and Higher Education, had been elected unopposed as the leader of the center-right Fine Gael party to replace Varadkar.