Sinn Féin, formerly known as the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, the IRA, is grabbing the status of the largest party in Northern Ireland in the local elections on Thursday. One of the party’s aims is to unite with Ireland.
The rise of the Irish Nationalist Party, Sinn Féin, as the largest party in Northern Ireland would be historic.
If there were an election victory, the party seeking the reunification of Northern Ireland with Ireland would have a solid position on both sides of the border.
The party was still known 24 years ago as the political wing of the IRA, known for its terrorist violence. We asked a visiting researcher at the Foreign Policy Institute Eoin Michale McNamaraltathe impact of Sinn Féin ‘s success.
First, how has Sinn Féin managed to clean up its reputation and grow its popularity so that it becomes the largest party?
– Social problems have been much on the agenda. There is homelessness, health problems, unemployment and more. An example of how things could be has been sought in the Nordic countries. Other parties have made no progress on these issues. The party is supported by a new, young generation.
Ireland and Northern Ireland are suffering from three bloody decades, is there a fear that the violence will return?
– There has been a much smaller scale of violence. Communities like Protestants and Catholics clashed with each other a bit like Neighborhoods. But the kind of violence that existed before the 1998 peace agreement is no longer seen. Paramilitary groups have been disarmed and many of IRA veterans in recent years have died.
Sinn Féin’s long-term goal is to unite with Ireland, what are the implications of such a goal?
– If and when Sinn Feinn gets a big mandate in both the North and the South, they are likely to settle cross-country, for example with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson plans to renegotiate the Brexit border issues for Northern Ireland.
What about the cooperation of the nationalist party with other parties, how does it succeed?
– In the division of power, co-operation is needed between other parties, but if the parties are arch-enemies, co-operation is impossible. It is entirely possible that the government will not be formed.
Sinn Féin is headed by a 53-year-old Mary Lou McDonald. The party has 26 percent support in opinion polls.
A total of 3,500 people died in the violence in Northern Ireland. They ended in 1998 with a peace treaty known as Good Friday.
Local elections will be held on Thursday, May 5th. Election results are expected on Friday.