The Unionist Democratic Party of Northern Ireland (DUP) has blocked a democratically elected Assembly by refusing to join it. The decision may fuel the nationalistic tendencies to leave Britain, destroying unity among Northern Irish political parties.
The DUP Rebels Against the UK Government
Sinn Fein Party has gained a historic result in the Stormont election and secured the most seats at the Assembly. Northern Ireland’s nationalist party has secured 27 seats ahead of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) with 25 seats. Northern Ireland divides the roles of first minister and deputy first minister between the most prominent unionist and nationalist parties. Sinn Fein is now the party with the most seats, so the role of the first minister goes to it. The DUP fills the position of the deputy role. However, no party could be in the post without the other. Sinn Fein has announced that they will be there on the first day when the new Assembly meets. But the DUP has denied introducing a speaker and will not join the power-sharing Executive. The party has said it will not cooperate unless the UK government changes the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Unionists Use Pretext to Halt a New Executive
The DUP’s decision has blocked forming a new Northern Ireland administration. Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, has urged the Northern Ireland parties to form a government as soon as possible. The unionist party has said it wanted to remove the trade rules that have created the Irish Sea border. The DUP has said it wanted the UK government to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market. The unionists are against customs and border checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from mainland Britain. The appraisals are in the Northern Ireland Protocol between the UK and the EU. By the protocol, the UK government wanted to avoid a return of tensions on the Irish Island. The unionist parties have opposed the protocol and believe it hurts Northern Irish businesses and undermines unionists’ British identity.
The DUP Has Disturbed Assembly’s Functioning
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a border with an EU country. The Northern Ireland Protocol keeps the country aligned with the EU single market. But it has created barriers to the flow of goods on the Irish Sea between the UK and Northern Ireland. The DUP has said Westminster should keep its words and reform the protocol, so it will join the power-sharing administration. The DUP has firmly opposed the Northern Ireland Protocol and asked for scrapping the created border in the Irish Sea. Michelle O’Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Fein, has criticized the DUP for punishing the public for its selfish interest. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the DUP, has not elected a speaker for the Stormont. The decision will disturb the normal functioning of the new Northern Ireland Assembly and will adjourn it indefinitely.
The Unionists Accused of Undermining Democracy
The unionist party’s decision damaged the entire democratic process and caused a crisis in Northern Ireland. Ms O’Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Fein, has called for the elected parties to show maturity, courage, and responsibility. The Sinn Fein MLA has accused the DUP of denying democracy by boycotting this Assembly and Executive. The Alliance Party leader has appealed to the DUP to respect the electorate and serve the people who elected them. The DUP is demeaning the entire democratic process that people have trusted and voted for. A solution to the unionists’ anger over the existence of the Northern Ireland Protocol involves compromises. The unionists have already supported Brexit, although many have warned it would create problems in Northern Ireland. There is a border with Ireland, and the unionists should avoid disputing the balance of the peace agreement.
The DUP Should Preserve the GFA
All parties must act to preserve the Good Friday Agreement on which the country depends. The agreement, also known as the 1998 agreement, ended decades of troubles in Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement has established a cross-community deal for peace and future management of the country. After decades of brutal tensions, all parties moved toward consensus. British and Irish governments, and eight political parties of Northern Ireland, signed an agreement in 1998.
According to the agreement, Northern Ireland remained a part of the United Kingdom with a democratically elected Northern Ireland assembly. The agreement established a North/South Ministerial Council for dealing with cross-border issues. Since then, the pro-Britain parties have tried to avoid any point on the border with Ireland. The Northern Ireland Protocol has also prevented a hard frame on the Irish Island.
UK Government Aims to Stop Division
The DUP’s reluctance to join the Executive and its refusal to introduce a speaker will weaken the 1998 Agreement. Such decisions reflect the unionists’ stubborn thinking and show the political challenges that face the party. The DUP’s findings have sparked a crisis at the Stormont, so the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Northern Ireland. Boris Johnson’s visit may help end Northern Ireland’s political deadlock. The UK Prime minister has decided to address issues related to controversial legislation on the Northern Ireland Protocol. He has said it was necessary to act if negotiations with the EU did not resume over the protocol issues. The UK government attempts to assure the unionist parties, specifically the DUP, that the protocol will change. At this time, the consensus for power-sharing between the DUP and Sinn Fein is necessary to prevent any division.
Conclusion
Northern Ireland politics are always controversial because of the troubled history and diversity of ideas. In the other nations within the UK, the party with the most seats can form the administration. In Northern Ireland, at least two different representatives from two different perspectives should join to form a power-sharing administration. After the May Stormont election, the unionists have denied joining a government and have not introduced a speaker. Their pretext is the existence of the Northern Ireland protocol, a part of the Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU. The pro-Brexit party should not forget that the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland should not be a hard border. Refusing to respect the assembly election and raising the protocol issue have undermined the democratic process in Northern Ireland. Talking of the unity in Northern Ireland while refusing to compromise will disrespect the electorate and damage democracy.
