Simon Harris, Ireland’s higher education minister, appeared poised to succeed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after securing the backing of much of the parliamentary party and as other frontrunners pulled out of the race.
His two likeliest competitors — Heather Humphreys, social protection minister, and Paschal Donohoe, public expenditure minister and president of the Eurogroup of eurozone countries — both said they would not put their names forward to take the helm of the centre-right Fine Gael party.
Helen McEntee, justice minister, and Simon Coveney, enterprise minister, who were also considered senior parties who could seek the leadership, also declined to stand.
Harris, 37, has not yet commented publicly. A leadership contest had been expected to run until April 5.
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