POLITICS – The news became official this Monday: Peter Robinson has officially stepped down as First Minister of Northern Ireland, handing over the reins to Arlene Foster, former Finance Minister and new leader of the DUP party.
This is a historic first for Northern Ireland: never before has a woman held this position in the Province! A significant milestone that fills the young woman with pride. However, all eyes are now on her, with high expectations and hope.
“I am very proud to be the first woman to hold such a position since the creation of Northern Ireland nearly a century ago,” she reportedly declared.
This appointment marks a real turning point for Northern Ireland: this 45-year-old mother of three will have to roll up her sleeves to tackle the thorny issue of the still unresolved Northern Irish conflict. Although the 1998 Peace Process greatly eased tensions, lingering echoes still occasionally threaten the government.
The most recent incidents occurred in autumn 2015: Peter Robinson and his government faced a serious political crisis. They accused the IRA of still being active, despite having signed the Peace Process 17 years earlier. These serious accusations dangerously shook the relationship between the DUP and the republican Sinn Féin party, which is believed to remain closely linked to the IRA.
Peter Robinson even temporarily withdrew from politics for a few weeks, leaving the interim leadership to Arlene Foster, who was already expected to permanently replace the Northern Irish First Minister following his imminent resignation.
By mid-November, an agreement was finally reached between the DUP and the republican Sinn Féin party. This agreement involves the gradual dismantling of all Northern Irish paramilitary groups while ending their influence over the population. A huge task now awaits First Minister Arlene Foster…
