HARRIS IS EARLY FAVE TO LEAD
SIMON Harris became the early favourite to become the next leader of Fine Gael and the next Taoiseach after Simon Coveney ruled himself out of the race in a shock move.
Although he was considered one of the bookies’ favourites to succeed Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael’s deputy leader and Enterprise Minister said he will not contest another leadership race after being defeated in 2017.
He told RTÉ: “No, I made a decision quite some time ago that I wouldn’t stand in another leadership contest.
“I had my chance and wasn’t successful last time. I think there’s a lot of talent in the party.
“But look, as I say, I don’t think we should be focusing on that today. I think we should focus on the role that Leo Varadkar has played in public life and Ireland, which is significant.”
Mr Coveney also said that he has no preferred candidate.
During the 2017 leadership competition, Mr Coveney proved more popular with party members than Mr Varadkar. He received 7,051 votes from members, compared to 3,772 for Varadkar.
However, as more members of the parliamentary party backed Varadkar, he ultimately won the contest.
Attention will now turn to Higher Education Minister Simon Harris and whether he will seek the nomination.
While a leadership contest gets underway, some are questioning whether or not there will even be a contest.
However, Mr Coveney told RTÉ he believes there will be a race.
Some members of Fine Gael have also suggested that Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe could be a good fit for the role.
While one TD noted that he has repeatedly denied that he is interested in being Fine Gael leader, things may change now that there is a vacancy and it is no longer a hypothetical question.
Other Fine Gael politicians have suggested that it should be a woman to take over the leadership role. One remarked that with Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald currently set to be the first woman to command the top job, it could be a good opportunity to snatch the title first.
Some members have suggested Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys could take on the role.
While Justice Minister Helen McEntee was once seen as the natural successor to the Taoiseach, her handling of crime in Dublin and the Dublin Riots in November have made her unpopular with the public.