After Northern Ireland election: Province threatened with political paralysis

Created: 05/08/2022 04:13

Michelle O'Neill and her party, Sinn Fein, celebrated victory in Northern Ireland.

© Liam Mcburney/PA Wire/dpa

As Sinn Fein celebrates its election victory in Northern Ireland, the Protestant-unionist DUP wants London to reopen disputes over the province's Brexit status.

Belfast/Washington - After the historic success of the Catholic-Republican party Sinn Fein in the regional parliament elections in Northern Ireland, the province is threatened with political paralysis and a new Brexit dispute.

The counting of the votes lasted until Sunday night.

For the first time in the more than 100-year history of the part of the country that belongs to the United Kingdom, Sinn Fein became the strongest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, which advocates secession from Great Britain and unification with the Republic of Ireland.

It won 27 seats, beating the Protestant Unionist DUP in second place, which won 25 seats.

Sinn Fein's top candidate, Michelle O'Neill, now has a claim to the post of prime minister.

Stark came out on top of the Alliance Party, which more than doubled the size of its faction to 17 seats

However, it is unlikely that a government will be formed for the time being.

After the peace agreement of 1998, known as the Good Friday Agreement, the strongest parties in both religious camps had to agree on a unity government.

However, the DUP has already announced that it will boycott the formation of a government in protest against the country's special Brexit status.

The province is threatened with political paralysis.

Brexit treaty

In an interview with the German Press Agency, DUP boss Jeffrey Donaldson accused the EU and the British government of using Northern Ireland as a political game ball.

He called on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to use an emergency mechanism to override what is known as the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Brexit agreement, adding: "We felt badly let down when the British government approved the protocol".

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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.

Many supporters of union with Great Britain fear that Northern Ireland will be decoupled from the rest of the United Kingdom.

The DUP blames the protocol for, among other things, the sharp rise in food prices in Northern Ireland.

Addressing Brussels, Donaldson said: "If you are genuinely interested in protecting the Good Friday Agreement, acknowledge the damage the Protocol is doing to it."

Meanwhile, the US government called on the parties to form a unity government, as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement.

Critical and immediate economic, health and education challenges are best addressed through the concerted efforts of a unity government, elected and accountable to the people, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Saturday (local time). ).

"We look forward to continuing our work with our democratic partners in Northern Ireland and with the UK and Irish governments to promote peace, prosperity and stability across the region," said Price.

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