The youngest current world leaders
Simon Harris sworn in as youngest leader in Irish history
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LIFESTYLE Politicians
When we think of world leaders, we usually picture an older man. But this isn't out of nowhere, as for centuries men over the age of 60 have been the majority to rule. But things have changed, as we're seeing more and more world leaders, both men and women, in their thirties and forties. These young world leaders hail from across the globe, from democracies, monarchies, and dictatorships. And while many are on different ends of the political spectrum, one thing is certain: they're all on the younger side.
In Ireland, Leo Varadkar was the youngest Taoiseach (prime minister) in the country's history when he was elected in 2017 at the age of 38. However, Varadkar announced his sudden resignation in the middle of his second term on March 20 for "personal and political" reasons. This left the leadership of the country and of the governing party, Fine Gael, up for grabs. On March 24, Fine Gael announced Simon Harris as Varadkar's replacement. Harris is 37, making him the youngest Taoiseach in Irish history.
He officially took office on Tuesday, April 9, and made some powerful statements in his first speech as Taoiseach. Harris condemned Israel's conduct in Gaza and vowed "not to be silent." He continued, “In Gaza, we are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe. And we are seeing innocent children, women, and men being starved and slaughtered." Harris immediately made himself one of the most outspoken critics of Israel in the West. Harris has a history of leaning left on domestic issues too, supporting the vote to legalize abortion in Ireland. Until his election, he served as the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland.
Click on for more of the youngest national leaders in the world.
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