After two years of political crisis, Northern Ireland could once again have a functioning government: the unionist party DUP announced that it would essentially return to government. The prerequisite is that the promises made by the British government are implemented, party leader Jeffrey Donaldson said last night.
The DUP, the most important force in the Protestant Unionist camp, has so far rejected a government with Catholic Sinn Fein. Therefore, Northern Ireland was recently governed directly from London.
Good Friday Agreement calls for unity government
Sinn Fein advocates reunification with EU member Ireland, while Unionists want to remain with Britain. It is not yet clear what commitments have been made to the central government in London.
Sinn Fein became the strongest force for the first time in the latest parliamentary elections in May 2022. The party is therefore entitled to the role of “Prime Minister”, while the DUP would take the equal position of deputy head of government .
The Good Friday Agreement, which ended the civil war in Northern Ireland in 1998, requires the largest parties from both sectarian camps to form a unity government.