Early elections in Northern Ireland seem inevitable. The country must have a new government by Friday, but has been in a political stalemate since February. This is due to disagreements over the Brexit deals.
The cause of the political crisis is that the country’s second party, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), is hindering the formation of a new council. The government of Northern Ireland must be made up of both unionists and republicans.
But the DUP refuses to propose ministers. The party does so in protest against the trade agreements entered into on Northern Ireland following the departure of the British from the European Union. According to the DUP, such agreements weaken Northern Ireland’s current status as part of the United Kingdom.
The elections ended in May. Since then, the DUP has not partnered with Republican election winner Sinn Féin. During an emergency meeting of parliament on Thursday, the DUP refused to elect a new president. This is an important intermediate step towards forming a new government.
Great chance for new elections in December
Under Northern Ireland law, a new government must be formed within a maximum of 24 weeks of the election. This period ends on the night of Thursday to Friday at 1:00 (Dutch time).
The possibility of new elections is therefore enormous. Insiders are already taking into account the fact that the new elections will be held in mid-December.
The British government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not yet given up hope. “There is still time,” a spokesman for Sunak said. “Speak up, because the people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully functioning and locally elected government that can address the issues.”
