CNN —Ireland’s governing party Fine Gael has named Simon Harris as its new leader, paving the way for him to succeed former Prime Minister Leo Varadkar as the youngest Taoiseach in Irish history at age 37. “It’s the absolute honour of my life to formally be here with you today in Athlone to accept the leadership of this great party, of our great party,” said Harris in his acceptance speech at a Fine Gael party conference in the Irish county of West Meath on Sunday. Simon Harris embraces his family after being announced as the new leader of Fine Gael. Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters“I want to thank every single person in this room and every single community you come from across Ireland. He also served as the country’s health minister from May 2016 to June 2020, according to Fine Gael’s website.

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Persons: Simon Harris, Leo Varadkar, Varadkar, ”, “, Harris, Clodagh Kilcoyne Organizations: CNN, Fine Gael, West Meath, Reuters Locations: Athlone, Irish, West, Ireland