His death comes at a time of heightened tension and political paralysis in the British province.
The main unionist party, the DUP, refuses to take part in a Sinn Fein-led local executive, as provided for in the 1998 agreement, until London ends certain provisions of the Brexit agreement providing for customs status particularly for Northern Ireland.
Read also : Risk of paralysis, reunification: in Northern Ireland, the historic victory of Sinn Fein does not mean the end of the problems
The British government wants to call into question certain provisions of the Northern Irish protocol by a law currently in Parliament, provoking legal action by the European Union.
This particular status was created to avoid the return of a physical border between the province and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit, which could have weakened peace.
But by maintaining de facto Northern Ireland in the European market, it creates a de facto border with the rest of Great Britain – a betrayal for the unionists – which revives community tensions.
►►► Read also : In Northern Ireland, graffiti revealing post-Brexit tensions
An attempt to revive the local assembly last Tuesday has been postponed. The day after the funeral, the parliamentarians will present their official condolences to the former Prime Minister during a special session.
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