'TikTok Taoiseach': Simon Harris set to be Ireland's youngest PM

Dublin: Simon Harris, set to become Ireland s youngest ever taoiseach (prime minister), will hope his social media skills and fresh face can save his...

Dublin: Simon Harris, set to become Ireland's youngest ever taoiseach (prime minister), will hope his social media skills and fresh face can save his party's flagging fortunes as elections loom.

Already dubbed by media the "TikTok Taoiseach" (pronounced "Tee-shock") the 37-year-old beats the previous record holder, predecessor Leo Varadkar, who was 38 when he took the top job in 2017.

After Varadkar's shock resignation Wednesday, Harris leapt from the blocks in the race for leader of the centre-right Fine Gael party and by default prime minister.

By Thursday lunchtime he had secured endorsements by a majority of party colleagues, prompting rivals to rule themselves out -- and effectively ending the leadership contest before it had even begun.

With no other candidates expected to emerge before nominations close Monday, pundits described Harris's apparent uncontested procession to the leadership as a 'coronation'.