On Thursday, people across the UK went to the polls. Municipal elections were held in most of the country, but parliamentary elections were held in Northern Ireland.
Those elections are complicated, because of great tensions between the different parties. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which has always been the largest in recent years, is Protestant and unionist. That means that the party wants to belong to the United Kingdom.
Originated from IRA
Sinn Féin, on the other hand, is Catholic and feels more connected to the Republic of Ireland. Sinn Féin originated from the Irish Republican Army, the IRA. This group carried out attacks on British targets, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, and demanded a reunification of Ireland.
–
–
Since the peace was signed in 1998, Sinn Féin has tried to shake off the IRA past, but opponents remain suspicious. Nevertheless, Sinn Féin managed to win 27 seats in the Northern Ireland parliament in the elections. Competitor DUP does not get past 25.
Sinn Féin is therefore allowed to supply the new Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. That will be Michelle O’Neill, who led the party to victory. It is the first time in more than 100 years that a Catholic party has won the most seats in parliament.
–
–
