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The DUP is looking for another new leader after Edwin Poots announced his intention to quit after a brief but tumultuous reign in the party\u2019s top job.<\/p>\nThe DUP is looking for another new leader after Edwin Poots announced his intention to quit after a brief but tumultuous reign in the party\u2019s top job.<\/p>\n
Mr Poots\u2019 resignation, tendered only three weeks after he was ratified in the role, came after an angry party revolt against his decision to nominate a First Minister on Thursday.<\/p>\n
A party statement announcing his departure followed a heated three-hour crisis meeting of party officers in the DUP\u2019s east Belfast headquarters on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
The dramatic move came after the vast majority of DUP MLAs and MPs earlier voted against Mr Poots\u2019 decision to proceed with reconstituting the Northern Executive, amid party anger at a UK Government pledge to grant Sinn F\u00e9in a key concession on Irish language laws.<\/p>\n
The announcement by Mr Poots, who currently remains Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister, concluded a hugely turbulent 24 hours in Northern Ireland politics \u2013 a period in which power-sharing appeared to have dodged another crisis following the nomination of First and Deputy First Ministers in a special Assembly sitting, only for the administration to be plunged back into uncertainty hours later with Mr Poots\u2019 departure.<\/p>\n
Serious question marks now hang over the future of newly appointed First Minister Paul Givan, who was nominated alongside Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill on Thursday.<\/p>\n
It is unlikely a new DUP leader would keep him in position and he could well choose to quit of his own accord before he is replaced.<\/p>\n
A planned meeting of ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive and Irish Government will not now proceed in Armagh on Friday.<\/p>\n
An electoral college made up of DUP MLAs and MPs will decide who will lead the party next. It remains to be seen whether it will be a contested race.<\/p>\n
Jeffrey Donaldson, who lost last month\u2019s leadership contest by 19 votes to 17, will be seen as a clear favorite by many.<\/p>\n
In a statement following the party officer meeting on Thursday, Mr Poots said: \u201cI have asked the party chairman to commence an electoral process within the party to allow for a new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party to be elected.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe party has asked me to remain in post until my successor is elected.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been a difficult period for the party and the country and I have conveyed to the chairman my determination to do everything I can to ensure both unionism and Northern Ireland is able to move forward to a stronger place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Poots was voted in as Arlene Foster\u2019s successor on May 14th, following a revolt against the former first minister instigated by supporters of Mr Poots.<\/p>\n
The Lagan Valley MLA was formally ratified as leader on May 27th, meaning he officially served just 21 days in the role.<\/p>\n