Harris pledges 'reset' as he becomes Irish PM in waiting

ATHLONE, Ireland — Simon Harris became Irish prime minister in waiting on Sunday, pledging to help small businesses, focus on law and order and tackle migration after his unopposed election to succeed Leo Varadkar as leader of the governing Fine Gael party.

Harris, a 37-year-old minister best known for helping steer the country's initial response to COVID-19, will be voted in as Ireland's youngest-ever prime minister when parliament next sits on April 9 thanks to support from coalition partners.

He will have no more than a year to save the coalition from defeat in parliamentary elections. Polls for the last three years have put Sinn Fein, a left-wing party that backs unification with British-run Northern Ireland, as the favorite to head the next government.