On 30 January, the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland decided to end its boycott and return to government, marking the end of a long-running political crisis since February 2022.
After the end of the civil war in Northern Ireland, a special system of distribution of power in the regional government was established, aimed at ensuring a balance between the interests of unionists (supporters of rapprochement with Britain) and republicans (supporters of union with Ireland).
From February 2022, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) stopped participating in the formation of a government in Northern Ireland, expressing its dissatisfaction with the terms of trade under Britain's agreement with the European Union. The main justification was dissatisfaction with additional checks on British goods entering Northern Ireland.
Even after the UK and the European Union agreed in February 2023 to ease customs checks and other restrictions on goods imported into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom, the DUP continued its boycott. The government of Great Britain reported the possibility of announcing early elections in Northern Ireland due to the absence of a government. Last week, after another warning, the DUP took a step back and agreed to a compromise.
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Geoffrey Donaldson, said that the agreement with the British government "creates the basis for our party to be involved in the work of the executive body of Northern Ireland, which will contribute to the restoration of local electoral institutions." This could lead to the resumption of government work in Belfast over the next few days.
The situation is complicated by the fact that after the last elections to the Assembly of Northern Ireland, the majority was won by the republican parties, in particular Sinn Fein, which is in favor of leaving the United Kingdom. Thus, its representative can apply for the position of the first minister.
