Sinn Fein party makes gains on Democrats in Ireland election

Ireland's Republican Sinn Fein party made significant gains on the Democratic Unionist Party in the Northern Ireland Assembly election.


The Sinn Fein party came within one seat and 1,168 first preference votes of the DUP, marking the first time the DUP will not hold a majority in Stormont.

The snap election was held after the collapse of a coalition led by Arlene Foster's DUP and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, and the two parties will have three weeks to establish a government run by Irish nationalists and unionists together or another election will be held.

"If there isn't an administration put in place then the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is on a legal obligation to dissolve the assembly and have another general election, which I doubt will get us anywhere," former Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble said.

All 90 seats were declared on Saturday morning with the DUP dropping from 38 to 28 and the Sinn Fein rising to 27.
 [upi.com]
4/3/17