Voters in Northern Ireland have given overwhelming backing to the mainstream Protestant and Catholic parties in regional elections, raising hopes that a power-sharing government could again be established in the province, according to dpa. The Protestant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of radical preacher Ian Paisley emerged as the largest party from Regional Assembly (parliament) elections, taking 36 out of the 108 seats. The DUP won six new seats, and increased its share of the vote by 4.4 per cent, putting it in a strong negotiating position for talks with Catholic Sinn Fein to form a government. Sinn Fein also improved its result, by winning 28 seats - four more than in elections in 2003. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), a more moderate Protestant party, suffered considerable losses, and will have 18 seats in the new Assembly, nine less than previously. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), the second-largest pro-Irish nationalist party, won 16 seats, two less than in 2003. The poll, which took place on Wednesday, is aimed at restoring a power-sharing government in the province by March 26, a deadline set by the governments of Britain and Ireland. Observers said the much-enhanced position of Paisley's DUP, and the increased support for Sinn Fein, would mean that both parties will try to drive a hard bargain in negotiations. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his Irish counterpart, Bertie Ahern, Friday welcomed the results and urged Northern Ireland's politicians not to miss "an opportunity of historic proportions." "I think now is the moment in Northern Ireland that we can get down to business," Blair said. "I think the parties that have been successful can take charge in Northern Ireland." A government alliance between the two main hardline parties, DUP and Sinn Fein, representing the province's Protestant and Catholic communities, would be unprecedented. According to commentators, attempts to bring the former bitter political enemies to an agreement on a power-sharing government by March 26 risks leading as never before to a polarization of North Ireland politics. The first power-sharing government in Northern Ireland, formed shortly after the 1998 Peace Agreement, was led by the more moderate Protestant Party, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), and Sinn Fein. This time, both the hardline DUP and Sinn Fein, long seen as the political wing of the underground organization Irish Republican Army (IRA), are under acute pressure from London and Dublin to enter government together - or risk an indefinite return to direct rule from London. "It is clear from the set of results that people in Northern Ireland voted overwhelmingly for power-sharing and they want their politicians to run with it on March 26," Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said. Hain met Paisley during Friday, but neither revealed details of their discussions. Meanwhile, Blair and Ahern issued a joint statement at the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels. "The message of the electorate is clear: after so many years of frustration and disappointment, they want Northern Ireland to move on to build a better future together through the devolved institutions," their statement said. "Restoration of the devolved institutions represents an opportunity of historic proportions. It must not be missed."
