Sinn Fein calls for the unlocking of Stormont
- Sinn Fein won the municipal elections in Northern Ireland for the first time, earning 144 councillors from the 462, 39 more than four years ago. For the Republican Party, this should serve to resume the Stormont Parliament, which blocks unionism.
The elections were held on 18 May, but the whole story ended on Sunday. Participation was 54%. Sinn Feinn gets 30.9% of the votes, 7.7 points higher than in the previous municipal elections, almost a third of the total. In view of the success it is having in the last elections, an increase was expected, but it could be said that it has exceeded all expectations.
Sinn Fein has been the strongest force in six regions, including Belfast, the capital. The DUP Unionist party will have a majority in five regions. Sinn Fein has voted in all regions and in all sectors of society, especially among young people. And besides attracting the votes of the new generations, he has kept his usual vote.
The DUP has been the unionist party with the second force, with 23.3% of the votes and maintaining its 120 seats. The great results of Sinn Fein are not good news for unionism, but the DUP is pleased with the result and interprets that its electorate has supported the boycott of the Stormont Parliament.
Parliament elections were held in May 2022, won for the first time by Sinn Fein and since then the DUP has blocked government formation because of its discrepancies with the border rules set by the Brexit agreements between the UK and Ireland. According to the Good Friday Agreements, which are 25 years old, the autonomous government of Northern Ireland must be completed between Republicans and Unionists, but in the case of Sinn Fein, the leadership of the government has been boycotted by the DUP.
Alliance up, UUP and SDLP down
The alliance has been the third force with 65 councillors, 14 more than four years ago. The results show a strong attachment to the East, which has sought to enter the West, although it has not had too many results in this area.
The Unionist Party of UUP Ulster that has remained third in recent years has been the biggest loser, with 10.9% (-3.2) of votes and a fourth seat with 53 seats, 21 less. A great loss, but more if we consider that it lost thirteen in the previous elections.
The other loser is the SDLP, the classic Social Democratic Party of the Irish nationalists, which is weakening in recent years with the strengthening of Sinn Fein. Gets 8.7% of the votes (-3.3 points) and 39 councillors (-20).
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