There will be fewer Assembly members in Stormont after Thursday’s election but how the numbers break down between the parties will be up to voters.
By Anthony Neeson
Voters go to the polls in Northern Ireland for the second time in ten months this Thursday to elect a new Assembly.
With Sinn Féin having collapsed the power-sharing institutions at Stormont due to public anger over the DUP’s role in the Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) scandal, both are tipped to come back as the two largest parties.
However, what precisely they come back to is anyone’s guess.
Most political commentators are predicting that the DUP will take a hit over RHI.
With fewer seats up for grabs this time - this as a result of the Stormont Assembly being reduced from 108 MLAs to 90 - all the main parties could in fact return with fewer members.
So it will be a case of watching the percentage vote to see where the gains and losses are made.
Having won 38 seats last time out, the DUP has the most to lose when counting begins on Friday morning.
The botched RHI scheme is just the latest in a long line of controversies to hit the party in recent months and fearing disillusionment - and even anger - among some unionist voters, the party has been reduced to warning that Sinn Féin could be returned as the largest party, opening the way for “Gerry Adams’ radical agenda.”
Urging unionists to come out on Thursday, DUP leader Arlene Foster warned: “The reality is that it is because of Sinn Féin’s inability to deal with the DUP in negotiations, they have precipitated a crisis in which they will wish to deal directly with the UK government.
“That is why it is so important that the DUP wins a strong mandate to ensure that the government does not give in to Sinn Féin’s demands.”
Campaigning under the slogan “Standing up for equality, respect and integrity,” Sinn Féin party workers report that canvassers have received a favorable response on the doorstep.
However, as the campaign has moved closer to election day, other issues have come to the fore, pushing RHI – and the public’s anger over it – down the agenda.
According to Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, this is an important election.
“Every election is important. But some have a historic significance that resonates for years. This is one of those,” he said.
“The future of the Good Friday Agreement, of the political institutions, and of the principles of equality and respect and parity of esteem that underpin the (Good Friday) agreement, are at grave risk.”
The coming days will reveal if unionist voters respond to what is being termed “Project Fear” by sticking with the DUP, this in fear of a Sinn Féin First Minister, or if the party will feel the backlash of a disillusioned electorate.
