Simon Harris elected new Irish Prime Minister

(FILES) Simon Harris applauds during the Fine Gael convention at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone, central Ireland on March 24, 2024, before being declared leader and de facto prime minister-in-waiting. Ireland's parliament on April 9, 2024 voted in Simon Harris as the country's new prime minister, replacing Leo Varadkar after he abruptly quit last month citing personal and political reasons. Harris, 37, will become Ireland's youngest ever prime minister when he is formally installed in the role at a meeting with President Michael D. Higgins later on Tuesday. (Photo by Paul Faith / AFP)
(FILES) Simon Harris applauds during the Fine Gael convention at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone, central Ireland on March 24, 2024, before being declared leader and de facto prime minister-in-waiting. Ireland's parliament on April 9, 2024 voted in Simon Harris as the country's new prime minister, replacing Leo Varadkar after he abruptly quit last month citing personal and political reasons. Harris, 37, will become Ireland's youngest ever prime minister when he is formally installed in the role at a meeting with President Michael D. Higgins later on Tuesday. (Photo by Paul Faith / AFP)
By Bernama - April 9, 2024 @ 9:36pm

DUBLIN, (Ireland): Irish parliamentarians today (April 9) voted 88 to 69 in support of the nomination of Fine Gael Party leader Simon Harris as the country's new taoiseach, reported German news agency (dpa).

Harris will now travel to the official residence of the president of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, where his appointment as the country's youngest-ever premier will be confirmed.

The president will sign the Warrant of Appointment and hand the Seal of the Taoiseach and the Seal of Government to Harris at a ceremony at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin's Phoenix Park.

The 37-year-old father-of-two will become Ireland's 15th taoiseach, after the surprise resignation of Leo Varadkar as Fine Gael leader three weeks ago.

Varadkar formally resigned at an audience with Higgins yesterday evening, paving the way for Harris' election today. — Bernama