The main parties in Northern Ireland have again shown their differences on 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 division of powers between unionists and republicans that is faltering 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, including Thursday, that it will not unblock the institutions or appoint ministers if the obstacles that, in its opinion, the protocol establishes for trade relations with the island of Great Britain are reviewed.
The new British Minister for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, has made a last 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 deadline, new elections will be called, probably on November 15, according to the BBC.
The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has called on the DUP through a spokesman to allow parliamentary activity, arguing that «the citizens of Northern Ireland deserve a fully empowered, locally elected administration that responds to the problems they face».
Without even having facilitated the election of the Northern Irish Parliamentary Bureau, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has made it clear that they will not vary their positions until there is «decisive action» on the Brexit protocol, «to remove barriers to trade within the country itself».
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill, who is claiming her right to be chief minister, has blamed Donaldson for a «failure of leadership» and called for a «joint approach» between London and Dublin if, as it appears, there is no last-minute deal in Belfast.
