Northern Ireland: after Sinn Fein's victory, London calls for union

After Sinn Fein's historic victory in Northern Ireland, London on Sunday called on nationalists and unionists to unite in a local executive to ensure the "

" of the British province, as the risk of political paralysis hangs over the backdrop of Brexit. .

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Supporter of a reunification with the Republic of Ireland, Sinn Fein became the first Northern Irish party after a poll organized on Thursday, winning 27 seats out of 90 in the local Assembly, against 25 for the unionists of the DUP, viscerally attached union with Great Britain.

"

," British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News on Sunday.

“

” and “

,” he added.

The victory of Sinn Fein, able to reshape the United Kingdom, allows the nationalist party, former political showcase of the paramilitary group Irish Republican Army (IRA), to appoint a local Prime Minister, Michelle O'Neill, for the first time in a hundred-year history of a province where Brexit has reignited tensions.

She hailed, as the counting of votes was coming to an end on Saturday, the entry into "

" for Northern Ireland, marked by political instability, promising to lead it by overcoming divisions.

Stability “at risk”

But under the Good Friday Peace Agreement reached in 1998, after three decades of bloody unrest, the government is to be led jointly by nationalists and unionists, auguring tough negotiations.

Because having come second after decades of unionist domination, the DUP - to whom the post of deputy prime minister falls - refuses to join a government as long as the post-Brexit customs controls remain in place, which according to him threaten the integrity of the Kingdom. -United.

He urged London to take action to remove them.

“

”, added Dominic Raab.

He reiterated his government's desire to renegotiate this text approved by London and the European Union, which confers a special status on the British province by keeping it in the European single market and customs union.

This is to avoid the return of a hard border with Ireland to reserve peace.

While Brussels refuses, offering only adjustments, the Deputy Prime Minister said he favored negotiation, but did not rule out that London would act unilaterally to protect trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, separated by sea, as well as

" of the United Kingdom.

The Irish and US governments have also called on Northern Irish politicians to share power as provided for in the peace accord.

Sinn Fein and the DUP have 24 weeks to find common ground.

Failing this, a new election will have to be organised.

"

," said Katy Hayward, professor of political sociology at Queen's University in Belfast, interviewed by AFP.

“

,” adds -she.

Although Michelle O'Neill called for a "

" on the future of Northern Ireland and her party aims for a reunification referendum within five years, she said the new executive must tackle priority to the soaring cost of living, after a campaign during which she insisted on social and societal issues rather than constitutional ones.

Read alsoThe United States calls for sharing power in Northern Ireland

Dominic Raab pointed out to him that 58% of voters had supported parties in favor of union with the United Kingdom or the status quo.

"

", analyzes Katy Hayward.