His unassailable lead should simplify the transition from Varadkar, with Fine Gael due to formally select a successor at its annual conference on April 6, paving the way for Harris’ election as prime minister when Dáil Eireann, the key lower house of parliament, next convenes on April 9 following the Easter recess.
Harris was expected to make a formal announcement of his candidature Thursday.
Widely liked within Fine Gael ranks, Harris is seen as a sharp-edged debater in his verbal sparring with the Sinn Féin opposition — a good quality with local and European elections looming in June and a general election an uncertain matter of months away.
