![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/2.38753881.jpg\")
The Green Party NI has announced it will not stand in all four Belfast constituencies in the General Election to help other pro-Remain parties.<\/p>\nThe Green Party NI has announced it will not stand in all four Belfast constituencies in the General Election to help other pro-Remain parties.<\/p>\n
The move by leader Clare Bailey is the latest in a series of electoral maneuvers by parties opposed to Brexit as they seek to maximize their efforts to unseat DUP Brexiteers.<\/p>\n
The Greens had already withdrawn from the South Belfast contest earlier this week to endorse the SDLP\u2019s bid to unseat the DUP\u2019s Emma Little Pengelly.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Ms Bailey said her party would also not nominate candidates in north, east and west Belfast.<\/p>\n
West Belfast is considered a safe Sinn F\u00e9in seat but the north and east could be tightly fought contests.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s John Finucane is hoping to topple DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds in the north of the city and Alliance leader Naomi Long is aiming to unseat the DUP\u2019s Gavin Robinson in the east.<\/p>\n
Ms Bailey said she was setting aside party interest to back pro-Remain counterparts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis election is all about returning as many pro-Remain MPs as possible,\u201d she said. \u201cThese are extraordinary times and require an extraordinary response.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Green Party NI achieved our best ever vote across the city of Belfast in the local government election earlier this year. However, I\u2019m prepared to put the need to have pro-Remain MPs returned ahead of party interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe realities of the first-past-the-post system and the threat posed to our way of life by Brexit means that we must do everything possible to maximize the pro-Remain vote. People want us to act to maximize the pro-Remain voice and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing right across Belfast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in and the SDLP are both stepping aside in three Northern Ireland constituencies to help efforts to unseat DUP candidates.<\/p>\n
One of those constituencies is North Down, where both parties are set to back independent unionist and Remainer Sylvia Hermon.<\/p>\n
The strategy was thrown into uncertainty on Wednesday evening when Ms Hermon announced she would not run for Parliament again.<\/p>\n
As of Thursday morning, the Green Party NI had not indicated whether it would run in North Down.<\/p>\n
It comes as the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party in Britain have formed a General Election pact, agreeing not to stand against each other in dozens of seats.<\/p>\n
The deal, brokered by the Unite to Remain group, will give voters a single Remain choice in 60 constituencies across England and Wales.<\/p>\n
The move follows an agreement earlier this year in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, where the Lib Dems took the seat from the Conservatives after the other two parties stood aside.<\/p>\n