New Fine Gael leader Simon Harris meets President of the Republic of Ireland Michael D. Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain to receive the seal of office following his appointment as Ireland’s new Taoiseach.
Damien Storan – Pa Images | Pa Pictures | Getty Images
The Irish Parliament confirmed Simon Harris as the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday, making him the youngest ever holder of the post.
Harris will succeed Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach – Irish for leader – after MPs voted 88-69. He was presented with his seal of office by President Michael D. Higgins on Tuesday afternoon.
Harris said via the social media platform
Varadkar announced his sudden resignation late last month, surprising both the public and politicians.
Harris, a former education minister, ran unopposed to succeed Varadkar as leader of the center-right Fine Gael party. At 37, Harris will be the youngest Taoiseach ever, taking that record from Varadkar, who was 38 when he took over in 2017.
In his first speech after the vote, Harris said he was taking office in a “spirit of humility” and wanted to bring “new empathy” to public life.
He called housing construction the biggest problem in society and pledged to “move mountains” to build new houses. Harris pledged to “act decisively” on the climate crisis and prioritize rural and regional development.
Newly appointed Fine Gael leader Simon Harris speaks at a conference in Athlone, central Ireland, on March 24, 2024, after being named de facto acting prime minister. Harris took over the post after the surprise resignation of his predecessor Leo Varadkar.
Paul Faith | Afp | Getty Images
He also spoke of a “humanitarian catastrophe” in the Gaza enclave and condemned the Israeli government’s “disproportionate response” to the October 7 atrocities by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. He added that Ireland would use its position in the European Union to call for a ceasefire.
In a speech last month after becoming presumptive Taoiseach-in-waiting, Harris called his nomination an opportunity for the party to “reset”.
“Under my leadership, Fine Gael stands for supporting business, particularly small business…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 “roads are safe and crime must never go uncontrolled,” he said, as Reuters reported from a party event.
Political challenge
Fine Gael won fewer seats in the 2020 election than its conservative rival Fianna Fáil, the other dominant force in Irish politics.
According to the Irish Times, Sinn Féin – whose platform advocated, among other things, unification with Northern Ireland, solving the country’s severe housing crisis and disrupting staid two-party politics – doubled its share of the vote compared to 2016 and won the popular vote.
Fine Gael retained power by entering into a coalition with Fianna Fáil and the Greens.
Harris will have little time to settle in before embarking on an election campaign in which Sinn Féin is likely to emerge as favourite. A vote must take place by March 22 next year and all opposition parties have called for one following Varadkar’s departure.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in November. 2023.
Victor Lochon | Gamma Rapho | Getty Images
Housing is the “obvious challenge” facing Harris, Shana Cohen, director of Irish think tank TASC, said by email, along with “access to health services, meeting carbon emissions targets and dealing with increasing visibility the extreme right”.
“Housing shortages and costs have impacted hospital staff, teachers and younger workers. … Health services in Ireland are set to become more accessible and cost-effective through the national health policy Slaintecare, but progress has been slow,” Cohen said.
Varadkar received a standing ovation from MPs after making a farewell speech in the Dáil.
His record was criticized in comments from Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who accused him of failing to address key issues and said Harris would bring “more of the same” policies. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said Varadkar was leaving the economy in a strong state.
Restless growth
According to ING, Harris faces an economy in which growth has slowed significantly in 2023, raising long-standing concerns about its heavy reliance on multinational corporations.
“With an election in the next 12 months, [Harris’s] The focus will be on the provision of material goods, including housing, and most likely on income tax cuts as part of the budget to be announced in the fall,” Diarmaid Sheridan, senior analyst at Davy Research, said by email.
“Foreign direct investment, particularly from American companies, has been the primary driver of economic growth over the past decade. That won’t change, but Harris has indicated that measures will be needed for smaller domestic businesses hit by inflation and increased structural costs.” Burdens from increased minimum wages,” Sheridan said.
This support could include VAT cuts or rebates, but these are temporary measures and may not address structural factors, he added.
In a March report, the Institute for Economic and Social Research predicted growth in all key economic indicators and a return to real income growth in 2024 and 2025. It also pointed to existing challenges due to the cost of living, as well as a threat from geopolitical tensions and infrastructure bottlenecks in a “small open economy with a very large multinational component.”
Source link
2024-04-09 14:38:16
www.cnbc.com
