Simon Harris refuses to rule out calling general election before end of the year
Simon Harris has refused to rule out calling a general election before the end of the year, as the Further and Higher Education Minister prepares to take over the leadership of Fine Gael.
Mr Harris is due to be named as party leader on Monday as no other candidates have put themselves forward to replace Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, following his resignation on Wednesday.
Speaking in Meath, Mr Harris said that recent days had been a “whirlwind” and he thanked Mr Varadkar for his work as Taoiseach and Tánaiste over the last seven years.
“Of course, in politics once there’s a vacancy it quickly moves to who is going to fill that vacancy,” Mr Harris said, thanking members of Fine Gael for backing him.
“My commitment to them and my commitment to the people of this country, if given the honour of serving, is that I will give this my all.”
Asked if he would ensure the Government runs full term if he takes up the Taoiseach’s office, Mr Harris initially said that he is first focused on the Fine Gael leadership election.
“I’m conscious that nominations are still open and that process needs to play itself out in the coming hours,” Mr Harris said.
However, he said that he remains committed to the Programme for Government if he is elected as Fine Gael leader.
When pressed if he would rule out an election before the end of the year, Mr Harris said: “I’m certainly not ruling anything in or out.
“My priority at the moment isn’t anything about elections. My priority was the election of the leader of Fine Gael. My priority is then, should I be given the opportunity to serve, is to work with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party to deliver on the Programme for Government.
“Certainly a general election is not in any manner or means on my mind. The people of this country want us to get on with their business.” Asked about a Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Harris did not indicate if any ministers are vulnerable but said that there is a period of two weeks between the election of a new leader and the appointment of a Taoiseach.
Mr Harris said that there are “really talented” people in Fine Gael and he was looking forward to showcasing that over the coming two weeks.
