Major parties in Northern Ireland have agreed to expedite their nomination for First Minister Arlene Foster’s replacement, who stepped down from the post on Monday, to avert fresh elections for the position.
The Irish Times reported that Arlene Foster announced her decision to resign as the British-run region’s First Minister after being expelled from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The expulsion came after party leaders accused her of improperly handling Brexit negotiations. Consequently, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill was also forced to step down, as their roles were a joint office. While tendering her resignation, Foster warned that the “politics in Northern Ireland, between the UK and Ireland, and the UK and the EU” could result in “imbalance and instability.”
There was uncertainty surrounding the appointment of the First Minister, as the region’s two major parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin, an Irish nationalist party, continued to disagree for weeks over a law on Irish languages. The controversy arose as Sinn Fein refused to support the appointments if the DUP failed to commit to an Irish language law. According to the party’s leaders, the appointment of a new First Minister must be accompanied by the introduction of cultural elements, particularly ones relating to the Irish-speaking population’s cultural rights in the region. The terms of this were laid down in the “New Decade, New Approach” agreement, which gave Northern Ireland its first government after three years.
On the other hand, the DUP leaders claimed that they would not commit to the law before the next elections, consequently calling upon the British government to legislate on the matter. However, after discussions that continued until Wednesday night, the British government agreed to introduce the law, thereby securing the power-sharing agreement. As a result, the new First Minister will be ratified on Thursday, stated Britain’s Ireland Minister, Brandon Lewis.
The DUP intends on nominating Paul Givan, a social conservative leader, for the position. First, however, he needs to secure the support of other parties in the power-sharing government by the following Monday, which is the end of the seven-day deadline. Failure to do so would force Northern Ireland into snap elections.
However, both the DUP and Sin Fein appear extremely committed to avoiding early elections. So it is a sigh of relief after Foster’s resignation threatened political stability in Northern Ireland, which is particularly concerning given that the region is already facing uncertainties driven by the European Union and the United Kingdom’s tussle over the area following Brexit.
Northern Ireland Looks to Avoid Fresh Elections as First Minister Foster Resigns
All the major political parties in Northern Ireland have decided to expedite the selection of a First and Deputy Minister following First Minister Arlene Foster’s decision to step down.
June 17, 2021
SOURCE: SKY NEWS