'He's Always Been Hungry for This': Meet Ireland's Youngest Ever Leader

Simon Harris was three years into a university degree when he dropped out in 2008.

A job had come up as a parliamentary assistant to an Irish senator, and Mr. Harris, an ambitious 20-year-old from a coastal town in County Wicklow, south of Dublin, saw "an opportunity to try and make a difference," he later told Hot Press, a Dublin-based magazine.

He never looked back. On Tuesday afternoon, at 37, he became the Republic of Ireland's youngest ever head of government, the culmination of a swift political rise to a post he has long aspired to.

Speaking in front of the Parliament shortly after he was confirmed in the role, Mr. Harris said he accepted "this new role in a spirit of humility, ready for the challenge, and full of energy and determination about what can be achieved."

"He's always been hungry for this role," said David Farrell, a professor of politics at University College Dublin, noting that although Mr. Harris was young, he was not lacking in political experience. "His career has been short, but it's been meteoric."

But Mr. Harris reached the top at a moment when his center-right party, Fine Gael, has stagnated in the polls. And unless he can revive its fortunes, his time as premier may also be short-lived.

By the end of March 2025, Ireland will hold a general election that could see Sinn Féin, the Irish left-wing nationalist party that won the popular vote in 2020, garner enough seats to form a government. Support for traditional parties has waned in the wake of a cost of living crisis and a severe housing shortage.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in.

Want all of The Times? Subscribe.