Northern Ireland is set to elect a government on Saturday for the first time in two years, after the British Parliament agreed to overhaul post-Brexit trade rules to break a political impasse.
Irish nationalists Sinn Fein are set to take on the role of Prime Minister after securing the most seats in the 2022 elections in the British region.
Northern Ireland has not had a devolved government since the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) walked out in protest at post-Brexit trade rules, which it says have created barriers with the rest of the UK and undermined the Northern Ireland's place in it.
The deal represents a political victory for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and helps draw a line under years of wrangling over Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade deals.
It also follows lobbying from US President Joe Biden, who visited Northern Ireland last year.
“I am delighted that the Democratic Unionist Party has taken this next step,” said British Secretary for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, in a statement.
The British Parliament approved this Thursday (1st), without formal votes, a reformulation of the rules governing trade in Northern Ireland, which were negotiated between the British government and the DUP.
The measures include the elimination of any physical controls when goods move within the UK's so-called internal market system and that more than 80% of all goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland would not be subject to controls.
Shortly after the vote, the DUP formally requested a session of the Northern Ireland Parliament in order to form a power-sharing government, a key part of a 1998 peace agreement that ended decades of sectarian and political violence between Irish nationalists who sought a united Ireland, pro-British unionists and the British army.
“Following the passage of very important legislation, I have written this afternoon to the Speaker of the Assembly to indicate that there is now a basis on which the Northern Ireland Assembly can meet and hold the positions of First and Deputy First Ministers and Executive Ministers.” , said party leader Jeffrey Donaldson in a statement.
Donaldson said he would meet with the leaders of the other main political parties this Friday (2) to discuss the new government. His party should assume the role of Deputy Prime Minister, who has the same powers as the Prime Minister.
The advance came after the government shutdown in recent weeks triggered mass strikes by public sector workers seeking delays in pay increases.
Opposition to the deal has been limited, with some criticism within the DUP and fierce opposition from its smaller rival, Traditional Unionist Voice.
Irish nationalists, the SDLP, said they opposed the deal as it downplayed the Republic of Ireland's role in Northern Ireland's economy.
Source: CNN Brasil
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