{"id":25854,"date":"2022-04-15T11:06:33","date_gmt":"2022-04-15T15:06:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25854"},"modified":"2022-04-15T11:06:36","modified_gmt":"2022-04-15T15:06:36","slug":"no-changes-to-first-minister-title-if-sinn-fein-wins-election-says-mcdonald","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25854","title":{"rendered":"No Changes To First Minister Title If Sinn F\u00e9in Wins Election Says McDonald"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The titles of first and deputy first minister will not change if Sinn F\u00e9in wins the upcoming Assembly poll, Mary Lou McDonald has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald said on Thursday evening that Sinn F\u00e9in did not back a change in the titles of the joint office at the head of the Northern Ireland Executive to better reflect the equality between the first and deputy first minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes amid speculation that Sinn F\u00e9in could achieve a historic victory in the Northern Ireland Assembly election on May 5th, with former deputy first minister Michelle O\u2019Neill claiming the title of first minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would be the first time Sinn F\u00e9in has held the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Sinn F\u00e9in deputy first minister Martin McGuinness suggested that the title could change to \u201cjoint office of first minister\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in an interview with the BBC, the Sinn F\u00e9in leader indicated that such an idea was no longer on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMartin didn\u2019t get a very positive response to his proposal at the time

Buy Levitra Without Prescription <\/a><\/p> ,\u201d Ms McDonald said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would like to see proof positive that everyone involved is up for power-sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked whether the idea of a \u201cjoint office\u201d title could help encourage the DUP and other unionists to return to the Executive after the election, Ms McDonald said: \u201cWhat I will do what and I have consistently said to unionist colleagues is that we need to demonstrate that what we have will actually be implemented.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am not proposing that we change the job title,\u201d she said during the interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said that the \u201cobjective position\u201d of her party was ensuring that what has been agreed between the Northern Ireland parties is implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said that she had no objection to anyone reflecting the joint nature of the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But she said that for around 20 years, Sinn F\u00e9in had served in that joint office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added: \u201cCan political unionism, and can the DUP actually similarly serve and that\u2019s a democratic test for them and one I hope they win.\u201d<\/p>\n

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