It is anticipated that Simon Harris will be named the forthcoming Fine Gael leader this Sunday, as the deadline for election nominations was accelerated. Currently, Harris, the Minister for Higher Education, is the lone nominee to succeed Leo Varadkar, the outgoing leader and Taoiseach. The Fine Gael executive council will officially verify the solo nominee as the party leader by Sunday at 1pm, after which they will partake in a council meeting.
Communicating this past Friday, Harris vocalised his devotion to upholding his party’s pledges associated with the Government’s programme upon assuming the position of Taoiseach. When questioned about any impending general election later in the year, he stated he wasn’t excluding or affirming anything at the present time, but the schedule of an election did not top his list of priorities.
The Wicklow TD and Minister for Higher Education corresponded with journalists before a Fine Gael occasion, taking place at the City North Hotel in Gormanston, Co Meath on Friday morning. He mentioned that if the position presents itself to him, he would be wholly set to implement the Program for Government and cooperate with his peers in Fianna Fáil and the Green Party to meet the needs of the country’s progress. On the topic of an early election, his reply was reserved, stating that he’s not diving into it just yet and his immediate priority doesn’t revolve around elections.
In regard to redistributing Fine Gael ministers, Harris suggested it was premature to think about such changes and would pause until the leadership election concluded. He highlighted the presence of exceptional talent within the parliamentary party and his anticipation for the opportunity to display it in the upcoming period.
Earlier on, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe, refrained from expressing whether he contemplated running for the leadership himself, stating only that he deeply appreciates his dual roles as Minister for Public Expenditure and President of the Eurogroup, roles he diligently upholds as a public servant. Therefore, his determination and attention are devoted there, with no indications of soliciting support for a leadership gaze.
It’s evident that Simon Harris is about to seize control of a party in travail. When asked about his willingness to remain in Cabinet, Donohoe replied, “Yes, I am but that is within the new Taoiseach’s jurisdiction…I am definitely passionate about continuing my work.”
In response to whether his post in the cabinet was crucial for maintaining his Eurogroup leader position – a premise widely believed in Brussels – Mr Donohoe stated he hasn’t “planned that far ahead.” He further emphasised that traditionally, the Eurogroup leader is also a finance minister. However, he acknowledged that the final decision on cabinet appointments will be at the discretion of the incoming Taoiseach.