British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak celebrated the restoration of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government by visiting Belfast on Monday. The deal struck by his ministers last week brought the North’s disaffected unionists back into the territory’s assembly, ending two years of political stalemate.
This victory is significant not only for ending the political stalemate in Northern Ireland but also for potentially strengthening the United Kingdom post-Brexit. The focus will now shift to everyday issues like healthcare and public worker pay raises.
The revival of self-government in Northern Ireland relieves the pressure on the issue of Irish unity, according to analysts. While the dream of a united Ireland has not disappeared, the focus is now on effective governance and power-sharing.
Sinn Fein, the Irish nationalist party, has the largest number of seats in the assembly and its leader, Michelle O’Neill, was installed as the first minister in the government. She mentioned the possibility of a referendum on unifying Ireland within the next decade.
Despite the changing demographics and Sinn Fein’s potential rise to power, the focus for now is on effective governance and power-sharing, rather than Irish unification.
The Democratic Unionist Party, which favors remaining part of the United Kingdom, also has an incentive to show that it can work constructively with the nationalists.
For Mr. Sunak, this period of tranquillity would ease the anxiety that has lingered since the Brexit vote in 2016.
2024-02-05 14:40:16
Article from www.nytimes.com