A historic turning point in Northern Ireland : the Catholic republicans of Sinn Fein , a former political arm of the IRA and a party in favor of reunification with Ireland, have in fact won the relative majority in the smallest of the nations of the United Kingdom , surpassing the largest of the parties Protestant unionists, the Dup , both in percentage of votes and - and this is the first time - in number of seats. For Sinn Fein this is the first step towards reaching the premiership .

The sensational overtaking was ratified at the conclusion of the polls in the British administrative elections held last Thursday.

The Republican leader Michelle O'Neill , 45, is therefore in pole position for the role of premier, while the unionists would indicate the vice premier. However, if the Dup refuses the management of the Northern Irish administration, it will return - as the law says - into the hands of Boris Johnson's central London government. For BoJo and the Conservatives, the Sinn Fein victory is another, which adds to the loss of consensus recorded in several seats of the Kingdom in the local vote.

"Today we enter a new era , it is a crucial moment for our political life and our people", Michelle O'Neill cheered, commenting on the results of the vote.

(Unioneonline / lf)

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