Northern Ireland may face snap election unless rival parties reach deal

Northern Ireland could face another election, the third within a year, unless political parties reach a power sharing agreement, a British government official has warned, it was revealed Thursday.

James Brokenshire, secretary of state for Northern Ireland, spelled out the possibility of another snap election for the devolved parliament in Belfast, warning of significant consequences if there is no deal to restore the devolved government at Stormont.

An election last Thursday led to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) retaining its position as the leading party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. But gains made by the pro-Irish republican party, Sinn Fein, meant they were just one seat behind.

Under the agreement which restored peace to the once troubled region, power in the 90-seat assembly must be shared between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

The two parties have fallen out over a controversial heating scheme, which Sinn Fein says will cost taxpayers in Northern Ireland hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars.

Brokenshire has written to Westminster MPs, saying if discussions between the political parties fail, there would be no executive or budget, causing "risks to public services".

Brokenshire added he was not contemplating any other outcome but a resumption of devolved government in Belfast as soon as possible.

But under the agreement if there is ultimately no executive formed, there is a high risk of power could return to Westminster, meaning home rule would be in place for the first time in a decade.

A spokeswoman for Brokenshire in Belfast told Xinhua the letter from the minister to MPs had not been made public. But it appears copies have been leaked to media outlets.

Talks are continuing between Northern Ireland's political parties and the British and Irish governments to resolve the situation. But a window of just a few weeks is closing.

Last week's election was called following the resignation of Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness who was deputy first minister in the assembly. By quitting the post, it meant that first minister Arlene Foster of the DUP also lost her position.

The big question for the parties involved in the discussions is whether Sinn Fein, under its new leader in Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, will work alongside a DUP headed by Foster.

Source: Xinhua