Northern Ireland moves closer to new elections amid political gridlock

The notices from London are not enough for the Northern Irish Parliament to start walking after the May elections

MADRID, 27 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The main parties in Northern Ireland have once again shown their differences this Thursday, leading the territory to new early elections that are expected to be called from London due to the lack of progress in Belfast.

The 1998 peace agreements stipulate a distribution of powers between unionists and republicans that falters after the electoral victory of Sinn Féin and the reluctance of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) with the protocol established in the Brexit pact for Northern Ireland.

Sinn Féin claims its right to lead the Government and the DUP has made it clear on several occasions, even this Thursday, that it will not unblock the institutions or appoint ministers if the obstacles that, in its opinion, are established by the protocol for relations trade with the island of Great Britain.

The new British minister for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, has made a final attempt this week to bring the parties closer together, with an ultimatum under his arm that expires this Friday at midnight, 24 weeks after the elections. After that period, new elections will be called, predictably on November 15, according to the BBC.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called through a spokesman for the DUP to allow parliamentary activity, arguing that "Northern Ireland's citizens deserve a fully empowered, locally elected administration that is responsive to the problems at hand. those who face each other".

Without even having facilitated the election of the Northern Irish Parliament table, the leader of the DUP, Jeffrey Donaldson, has made it clear that they will not change their positions until there is "decisive action" on the Brexit protocol, "to remove trade barriers within the country itself".

Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill, who claims her right to be chief minister, has blamed Donaldson for a "leadership failure" and has called for a "joint approach" between London and Dublin if, as it seems, there is no last minute deal in Belfast.