Historic election in Northern Ireland: Sinn Fein party strongest for the first time - Johnson under pressure

Created: 05/07/2022, 10:25 p.m

After the general election in Northern Ireland, a change of power is in the offing.

The Sinn Fein party becomes the strongest force.

It supports unity with the Republic of Ireland.

Boris Johnson is under pressure.

Belfast - After counting most of the votes on Saturday evening (May 7), it was clear: Northern Ireland is experiencing a historic change of power after the general election.

For the first time, the Catholic Republican party Sinn Fein received the most votes.

She is expected to get at least 27 of the 90 seats.

The special feature: The Sinn Fein party is committed to the detachment of the part of the country from Great Britain and a union with the Republic of Ireland.

This is considered a symbolic turning point in the history of the province, which was founded over 100 years ago.

Historic election in Northern Ireland: Sinn Fein party strongest - "significant day of change"

So far, the Protestant Unionist DUP has been the country's strongest force in Northern Ireland.

The party suffered heavy losses in the parliamentary elections.

This means that the First Minister is no longer a party that advocates maintaining the union with Great Britain.

After the election, the right to the post of prime minister goes to Sinn Fein's top candidate, Michelle O'Neill.

"Today is a very momentous day of change," O'Neill said in an address.

She added: "Today begins a new era that gives us all the opportunity to redefine relationships in society on the basis of fairness, equality and social justice regardless of social background," said the Sinn Fein party's top candidate , which was once considered the political arm of the militant organization IRA.

O'Neill called on the other parties to cooperate to form a government.

But this could prove tough.

Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain.

The Sinn Fein party is committed to unity with the Republic of Ireland.

© P. Massow/J.

Schneider/dpa

Historic election in Northern Ireland: Forming a government could be difficult - pressure on Johnson

The formation of government in Northern Ireland is clearly regulated.

According to the peace agreement of 1998, known as the Good Friday Agreement, the largest parties from both denominational camps in the former civil war region must agree to work together in a unity government.

For the first time since the general election in Northern Ireland, the Sinn Fein party is the strongest party that supports Irish unity.

© Paul Faith/AFP

However, the largest Protestant Unionist party, the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party), has already announced that it does not want to join a government in protest at Northern Ireland's special Brexit status.

She, meanwhile, increased pressure on the British Prime Minister to break the Brexit deal.

"Boris Johnson now has a choice: either the Good Friday Agreement or the Northern Ireland Protocol," former DUP parliamentary group leader Nigel Dodds told the German Press Agency on Saturday.

If Johnson does not repeal the protocol, his party will not participate in a unity government, Dodds said.

The Northern Ireland Protocol

The Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit treaty provides for a special status for the province to avoid border controls with EU member Republic of Ireland.

However, goods must now be checked if they are brought into Northern Ireland from England, Scotland or Wales.

The DUP fears this could be the first step in Northern Ireland's detachment from Britain.

Boris Johnson reached the agreement with Brussels against the will of the DUP, but has since repeatedly threatened to scrap it.

Should that happen, a clear reaction from Brussels could be expected.

The issue of Irish unity played only a minor role in the election campaign.

Sinn Fein instead focused on social issues.

O'Neill announced that she wanted to focus primarily on these issues as the future head of government.

At the same time, she called for a broad

.

"Let's all work together on a common plan," O'Neill said.

In addition to the local election, Boris Johnson is currently under pressure, mainly because of the "Partygate" affair.