#NORTHERNIRELAND: Sinn Féin Leader Elected First Minister

[world politics news]

For the past two years while waiting to get the keys to her office, Sinn Féin's Northern Ireland leader has promised to be a first minister for all.

She repeated that pledge in her speech on Saturday after becoming the first nationalist to hold that post in Northern Ireland's 103-year history. She told unionists their national identity, culture and traditions were important to her.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Sinn Fein Urges Commitment To NI Protocol

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Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has said calls to abolish the Northern Ireland protocol are “not grounded in reality” as she urged the DUP to commit to “real powersharing” with her party at Stormont.

In a keynote address in the Balmoral Hotel in west Belfast to fellow Sinn Féin members, Ms McDonald claimed that a DUP “failure to accept rights and equality” was a contributory factor in the “political storm” that has hit unionism in recent days.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NORTHERNIRELAND: MP's Tweet Praising Communist China Prompts Backlash

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A tweet from Northern Ireland Member of Parliament Chris Hazzard expressing solidarity with China has prompted a backlash.

On Saturday the South Down Sinn From Party MP tweeted that it was "great to see President Xi has announced the end of absolute poverty in China this week".

"China has spent more than ¥1.6trillion in this historic endeavour including 10million new homes & 25million renovated homes," the tweet read.

"Xi has vowed now to eradicate health inequalities #Solidarity."

Hazzard's tweet drew a backlash critical of his decision to show support for the oppressive Chinese regime, which has been accused of a litany of human rights abuses.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Agree On Coalition Government

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Sinn Féin will provide “the most effective opposition in the history of this State”, party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said.

Speaking after the emergence of the draft plan for a coalition government, she described the document as “very long, very wordy” and said the content was “vague”.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael back in government together, that’s not change.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Sinn Féin Makes Dramatic Advance In Election; But Forming Gov't Will Be Difficult

[world politics news]

In Ireland's national election this past weekend, the Sinn Féin Party, with overwhelming support from the youth vote and dissatisfaction with the government over housing shortage, did better than it ever has; while the two major parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, came up short in the popular vote count, which is still ongoing.

Fianna Fáil will likely retain the largest number of seats in the Díal, the nation's parliament, and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar retained his seat, but it's unclear whether he will remain the party's leader after the election results are tallied.

Sinn Fein will find it difficult to form a government in the Díal. A party will need 80 seats in order to form a government without a coalition. Sinn Fein only fielded 46 candidates in Saturday's election, however.

Sinn Féin party officials say their best hope is to seek partners in other left-leaning parties.

Fianna Fáil officials campaigned on not forming a coalition with any other party, especially Sinn Féin, but even with only partial results in, officials reportedly are softening their position on a coalition with Sinn Féin.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Opposition Sinn Féin Party Proposes New Wealth Tax, €3.4 Billion In New Spending

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The opposition Sinn Féin Party has proposed a battery of new taxes including a wealth tax and a high income tax in its alternative budget which proposes to spend €3.4 billion more than the € 2.8 billion of the government.

In a clear signal the party is positioning itself firmly to the left, the budget  document argues for new taxes on high earners and high net worth individuals in a package that would increase revenue by €2 billion. The party’s finance spokesman, Pearse Doherty, said its budget would be balanced and "Brexit-ready."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Sinn Fein Leader Says Lessons Learned After Poor EU Election Showing

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The Sinn Féin Party needs to learn the lessons giving by its drubbing at the local and European elections last month, Party Leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. But she dismissed any questions over her stewardship of the rank and file, saying she would not resign over the collapse in support.

She promised to talk with all parties after the next general election in the Republic about going into government in Dublin, "because I think that is what grown-ups do,” she said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Parties Believed To Be Close To Compromise On Restoring Assembly

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The government believes there are fresh hopes of reaching an agreement between the two main political parties in the North and restoring the power-sharing executive after months of deadlock. Despite public grandstanding by Sinn Fein after the Democratic Unionist Party's offer of an olive branch on the Irish language act last week, government sources say Gerry Adams's party is willing to reach a compromise.

[FULL STORY HERE]

Pictured: Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster

#IRELAND: Head Of Fine Gael Pty Criticized By His Party For Saying Sinn Féin Coalition "Unlikely"

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Ireland's head of government (Taoiseach) and leader of the Fine Gael Party is taking heat for suggesting that a coalition government with Sinn Féin would be unlikely "in  the near future." Officials in his own party said such an unlikely coalition wasn't impossible, however, and some took him to task for even speculating, one legislator pointing out that since Kenny won't lead Fine Gael into the next election, he wouldn't be involved in any coalition talks. Others said his comments were justified considering that his party's ruled out a coalition with the Fianna Fáil Party.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#NORTHERNIRELAND: "Continued Devolution" Of Powers To N. Ireland Within Reunification An Idea Gaining Favor

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Achieving a united Ireland could involve “transitional arrangements” short of unity that could include continued devolved government in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy recently told a peace conference - an idea that has gained favor recently as a possible way to achieve unification.

#IRELAND: Sinn Fein Pres. Gerry Adams Apologizes After Using "N-word" In Tweet

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Sinn Fein Party Pres. Gerry Adams is in hot water after using the "N-word" in a tweet while watching the film "Django Unchained." Adams has apologized for using the word, part of a series of tweets comparing the struggles of African American slaves to the Irish under British rule in the 19th Century. Ireland's Equality Commission said the language was inappropriate.

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Derry's Sinn Féin Mayor Refuses To Attend Joint Remembrance Day Ceremonies

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The Sinn Féin Mayor of the city of Derry has announced she will not be attending this Sunday’s remembrance day service at the war memorial in Derry. Elisha McCallion said she met with members of the Royal British Legion and explained to them her reason for declining their invitation to attend the cenotaph service on Sunday at 11a.m.

#NORTHERNIRELAND: Frmr. Unionist Fin. Min. Blasts Sinn Fein Praise Of Greeks

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Sinn Fein EU Parliament member Martina Anderson said the people of Greece had "stood up for Ireland, Spain, Portugal and all of Europe." But former Democratic Unionist Party Finance Minister Sammy Wilson said Anderson's praise of Greece, "should send a shiver down the spine of every sensible person in Northern Ireland."

Pictured: Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson.

#IRELAND: Dublin Elects First Sinn Féin Party Mayor

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Críona Ní Dhálaigh, Sinn Féin councilor and "Dub, born and bred," has been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin by the city's 63-member council. Ní Dhálaigh replaces Christy Burke after an agreement was made that a Sinn Féin councilor would take over the position during the centenary of the 1916 Rising.

#IRELAND: Fianna Fáil Ldr Calls Sinn Féin "Unfit" For Gov't; Is Exploiting 1916 Rising Anniv.

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Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin has attacked Sinn Féin, saying the party's engaged “in a deeply sinister attempt to misuse the respect which the Irish people have" for the 1916 Rising that established the Republic. He also claimed Sinn Féin "remains unfit for participation in a democratic republican government."

#UK: UKIP's Farage On Video Calls N. Ireland Peace Process "Loathesome Surrender To Murderers"

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UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has been seen on a YouTube video criticizing the Northern Ireland peace process. The process led to a prisoner release and a unity government which he called a "loathsome surrender to murderers." The peace deal ended decades of terror and fighting in Northern Ireland.

#IRELAND: Sinn Féin Lawmakers Set To Block Naming Of Overpass For Slain Journalist

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Sinn Féin representatives on South Dublin County Council have objected to the proposal to name an overpass after a journalist killed in gang violence, saying it would "create a hierarchy of victims" of gangland crime. The idea of naming the overpass in Dublin is supported by the nation's transportation secretary.

#IRELAND: House Speaker Faces "No Confidence" Vote After Voicing Public Complaints

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Dáil Speaker Seán Barrett may face a no confidence vote after accusing Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin parties of trying to undermine his position, after he ruled a debate "out of order." Barrett complained of the parties' actions on a radio program. Barrett's statement Tuesday failed to placate the parties.

#NORTHERNIRELAND: First Sinn Fein Speaker Elected For N. Ireland Assembly

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Sinn Fein's Mitchel McLaughlin has been elected the first speaker of Northern Ireland's Assembly in Belfast. McLaughlin won with overwhelming support from Unionists for the position, which presides over business for the Assembly, which is the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland.