Rishi Sunak tried to blow away the dream of a united Ireland in Belfast. international

Rishi Sunak has dedicated many expressions of affection and many serious statements to Northern Ireland’s unionists. He needed to convince them firmly that their future within the United Kingdom was assured, so that they could finally lift the two-year blockade on the region’s self-governing institutions – as he did last week. In this context, it is understood that the Prime Minister wanted to immediately puncture the balloon of Irish reunification, which took flight this weekend, when the Republicans of the former political wing, Sinn Féin, took possession of it for the first time in history. Had done. Chairman of the Chief Minister of the Northern Irish Autonomous Executive, of the terrorist organization IRA.

Sunak, who was present at the first meeting, said, “Today is a historic and important day for the country, as Northern Ireland’s politicians once again take the reins of power to govern on behalf of the people, as it should be.” The new Stormont Government (the name of the palace and castle outside Belfast where the devolved legislature and executive reside). Sitting next to him, listening to him today were two women at the head of Northern Irish institutions: Sinn Féin’s new chief minister Michelle O’Neill. and Emma Pengelly, from the main pro-British party the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). “Our new deal (struck between Downing Street and the DUP to lift lockdown) will deliver more money and powers than ever to meet the needs of Northern Ireland’s families and businesses. This should be everyone’s priority now. Not constitutional change, but people’s everyday needs,” Sunak wanted to emphasise.

“Today is about reintroducing the Good Friday Agreement, which was widely supported on both sides of the island at the time. The Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, reaffirmed, “This is not the time to talk about constitutional change.” Dublin is as much a guarantor of the functioning of the Northern Irish government and parliament as London. Although the dream of unification is extremely popular in the Republic of Ireland, its politicians are always quick to point out that it would be a huge challenge socially and economically.

But “constitutional change”, the technicality with which some and others refer to a possible referendum on the unification of the two Irelands, is difficult to avoid. And not just because of the fact, which hardly anyone knows, that Sinn Féin is today the most voted party in the north and south of the island.

“Unity is getting closer. And not because of Sinn Féin’s victory, however deserved. “It’s a somewhat simplistic vision and a narrative that gives that party the most,” Matthew O’Toole, spokesman for the Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP, in its English acronym), told EL PAÍS during a long walk through the corridors. Gives more interest. From Stormont Palace, after a morning of great excitement.

There is a dual air of nostalgia and hope in his words, as it was the party, led by John Hume, that inspired the idea of ​​democratic consensus for the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement, which lost support years later. Voters of Republican and Unionist extremism. “If you look closely, the number of people voting for nationalist parties has not increased significantly. But there are a lot of citizens who are more open-minded. We have to focus our attention on them only. They are the same ones who see the United Kingdom as more unstable and poorer because of Brexit. That poverty translates into less public assistance and the same instability here in Northern Ireland. And they come to the conclusion that something different needs to be done,” O’Toole summarizes.

In fact, given the promise given from London, once self-government institutions reopened, of an immediate infusion of financial assistance of over 3.8 billion euros, the main reason for the reaction of the Chief Minister and Deputy Minister alike It has been: This is not enough to alleviate the thousands of stalled salaries and neglected services in the public sector. Especially in health care.

The unity of Ireland, “in a decade”

Sinn Féin successfully applies the same political strategy in the north and south of the island. He speaks more about the housing crisis, the urgent response needed to the deteriorating public health system or the need to provide hope to young people than about his republican passion for the dream of a single Ireland. But they do not hide it, much to the irritation of the unionists. O’Neill, 47, admitted on Sunday: “We are fully capable of sharing the government’s work (with unionists on the Good Friday peace deal) and at the same time promoting this type of dialogue. ” BBC.

He assured that his generation could see the unity of Ireland within a decade. “Let us have the courage to present arguments from both sides. This has always been the beauty of the peace agreement: it leaves the decision in the hands of the people,” the chief minister defended.

The Good Friday Agreement gives the Minister for Northern Ireland (of the British Government) the power to call a consultation “if at any time it is considered probable that a majority of voters are inclined to support the decision to stop Northern Ireland from becoming part of the United Kingdom. ” And be part of a united Ireland.” It is understood that voters are on both sides of the invisible border that divides the island today.

Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, who accompanied Sunak on his visit, has made it clear that the “potential majority” outlined in the agreement is still a long way off, and has stressed that the urgency in Northern Ireland is greater today. More social than political.

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