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DUP and SF look set to remain largest parties in Northern Ireland

Updated / Friday, 6 May 2016 22:53
A count supervisor sorts voting papers at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast
A count supervisor sorts voting papers at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast

The DUP and Sinn Féin are on course to remain the largest parties in Northern Ireland, with more than 55 seats filled in the Assembly elections.

The DUP seems to be on course to remain the largest party, which would see Arlene Foster returned as first minister.

Sinn Féin, under Martin McGuinness, is on course to retain second position. 

Ms Foster was elected on the first count in Fermanagh South Tyrone, while Mr McGuinness topped the poll after the first count in Foyle but has not been elected yet.

PBP has won its first seat in the Assembly, with Belfast City Councillor Gerry Carroll elected on the first count in West Belfast.

Speaking prior to his election, Mr Carroll said people in West Belfast were looking for an alternative and wanted political representatives who would "stand up to austerity".

Live blog: Assembly election

Official turnout figures, meanwhile, put the total number of votes cast at 703,744, a turnout of 54.91%

Mandatory coalition at Stormont

The system of government at Stormont is a mandatory coalition: traditional rivals unionists and nationalists are obliged to share power.

That was the formula set out in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, which cleared the way for the ending of direct rule from Westminster and the establishment of locally-based government.

Unionists have always been the largest party; first the UUP but then the DUP, under Ian Paisley and since 2008, Peter Robinson.

Arlene Foster took over the DUP leadership last December and she will be hoping it will remain the largest party, with her in line to be named First Minister when Stormont re-opens next week.

Mr McGuinness has led Sinn Féin at Stormont since 2007.

In the outgoing Assembly, Sinn Féin had 29 seats compared to the DUP's 38. It would take a major upset to reverse those positions.

The three other leading parties - the SDLP, the Ulster Unionists and Alliance - will hope for a performance that does not suggest decline.

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