Within five years: Sinn Fein announces referendum on reunification

Within five years
Sinn Fein announces referendum on reunification

The reunification of Northern Ireland and Ireland plays a minor role in the election campaign. But shortly after winning the election, the Sinn Fein party held out the prospect of a vote on the matter within five years. A majority in favor is uncertain, the formation of the government will be a tightrope act.

Following the historic election victory of Irish nationalist Sinn Fein, Northern Ireland faces a difficult task of forming a government. With the announcement of the election results, the pro-British DUP reiterated its call for the abolition of customs regulations for the British provinces as part of the post-Brexit agreement with the EU. Sinn Fein, in turn, announced a referendum on reunification with the Republic of Ireland within five years.

After all the votes were counted, Sinn Fein, formerly considered the political arm of the paramilitary Irish Republican Army (IRA), won 27 of the 90 seats in the Belfast regional parliament. For the first time in the 100-year history of the British province, it is the strongest force in the Stormont. The DUP got 25 mandates. Sinn Fein top candidate Michelle O’Neill announced the beginning of a “new era”.

“This is a very important moment of change today,” said O’Neill. The 45-year-old is now set to become the first regional head of government to advocate reunification with the Republic of Ireland. In the election campaign for the regional elections, the party put this matter aside and concentrated on social issues. After the election, however, Sinn Fein confirmed its intention to hold a referendum soon.

DUP chief calls for change to Northern Ireland protocol

Meanwhile, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson reiterated his opposition to his party taking part in the government until there are changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol, which regulates customs regulations for the region in the trade agreement with the EU. The planned customs controls in the exchange of goods between the British province of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom are a thorn in the side of the DUP. The government in London had approved the regulation to prevent controls at the inner-Irish border, as this could have endangered the peace process in the former troubled region. The DUP is demanding that the British government scrap the Northern Ireland Protocol without replacing it.

However, according to the 1998 peace agreement, the regional government in Belfast must be led jointly by Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists. “The people have spoken and our job now is to act. I expect others to stand up too,” O’Neill said. The Good Friday Agreement was concluded in 1998 to end the violent conflict between pro-British Protestants and Catholics striving for independence from London. It provides for the two largest parties in the British provinces to share power.

Alliance party is secret election winner

Alongside Sinn Fein, the multi-denominational Alliance party is the big winner of the regional elections. She finished third with 17 seats behind the DUP. Party leader Naomi Long called for old tensions to be overcome. “We’re serious about it (…). We’re not interested in playing games.”

The US government called on Protestant and Catholic politicians to share power under the Good Friday Agreement. British Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis is expected in Belfast shortly. He called for unity and appealed to all parties to form a functioning government “as soon as possible”.

With a view to the Northern Ireland Protocol, Lewis called on Brussels to renegotiate. “It is very disappointing that we are already hearing from the EU that it will not show flexibility,” said the minister. London would act unilaterally if necessary to protect intra-British trade and Northern Ireland’s constitutional status.

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