2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election
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| 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election | |
|---|---|
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| Election name | 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Type | legislative |
| Previous election | 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election |
| Previous year | 2017 |
| Next election | Next Northern Ireland Assembly election |
| Next year | Next |
| Seats for election | All 90 seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly |
| Majority seats | 46 |
| Turnout | 63.6% |
| Election date | 5 May 2022 |
| Party1 | Sinn Féin |
| Leader1 | Michelle O'Neill |
| Percentage1 | 29.0% |
| Seats1 | 27 |
| Seat change1 | +1 |
| Party2 | Democratic Unionist Party |
| Leader2 | Jeffrey Donaldson |
| Percentage2 | 21.3% |
| Seats2 | 25 |
| Seat change2 | -3 |
| Party3 | Alliance Party of Northern Ireland |
| Leader3 | Naomi Long |
| Percentage3 | 13.5% |
| Seats3 | 17 |
| Seat change3 | +9 |
| Party4 | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Leader4 | Doug Beattie |
| Percentage4 | 11.2% |
| Seat change4 | +1 |
| Party5 | Social Democratic and Labour Party |
| Leader5 | Colum Eastwood |
| Percentage5 | 9.1% |
| Posttitle | First Minister after election |
| Before election | Paul Givan (DUP) |
| After election | Assembly did not convene |
| Before party | Democratic Unionist Party |
2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election was held on 5 May 2022 to elect all 90 members to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The election was triggered by the resignation of First Minister Paul Givan of the Democratic Unionist Party in February 2022, in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol. The results delivered a historic victory for Sinn Féin, which became the largest party in the Assembly for the first time, while the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland made significant gains as the largest non-aligned, or "Other", designation.
Background
The election was necessitated by the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive in February 2022. The Democratic Unionist Party's Paul Givan resigned as First Minister of Northern Ireland, a move linked to the party's ongoing opposition to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol. This protocol, part of the Withdrawal Agreement, created a trade border in the Irish Sea, which unionists argued undermined Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom. The resignation automatically removed Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill from the post of deputy First Minister, collapsing the power-sharing executive as per the rules of the Good Friday Agreement. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, was then obliged under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to call an election within 12 weeks.
Campaign
The campaign was dominated by constitutional and economic issues. The Democratic Unionist Party, led by Jeffrey Donaldson, campaigned on a platform demanding the abolition or fundamental reform of the Northern Ireland Protocol, framing it as a threat to the Union. Sinn Féin, under Michelle O'Neill, focused on issues like the cost of living crisis, healthcare reform within the National Health Service, and Irish unity as a future constitutional aspiration. The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, led by Naomi Long, emphasized pragmatic governance, the strengthening of Stormont institutions, and its non-sectarian "Other" designation. The Ulster Unionist Party (Doug Beattie) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (Colum Eastwood) also campaigned on cross-community issues, with the latter advocating for a United Ireland through persuasion.
Results
The election produced a landmark result, with Sinn Féin winning 27 seats and 29.0% of first-preference votes, surpassing the Democratic Unionist Party which won 25 seats. This marked the first time a Irish nationalist party topped the poll in a Northern Ireland election. The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland achieved its best-ever result, securing 17 seats and becoming the third-largest party. The Ulster Unionist Party won 9 seats, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party held 8. Smaller parties like the Traditional Unionist Voice and People Before Profit also won representation. Voter turnout was 63.6%, a slight decrease from 2017. The results entitled Sinn Féin to nominate the First Minister of Northern Ireland.
Aftermath
In the immediate aftermath, the Democratic Unionist Party refused to nominate a deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, preventing the formation of a new Northern Ireland Executive and leaving the Assembly unable to elect a Speaker or conduct business. This stance was part of the party's strategy to pressure the UK Government, led by Boris Johnson, to act on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Consequently, Northern Ireland was left without a devolved government for over a year, with senior civil servants running departments within limited powers. The political deadlock prompted repeated negotiations involving the UK Government, the European Commission, and local parties, eventually leading to the Windsor Framework agreement in 2023.
Analysis
Political analysts viewed the election as a significant realignment in Northern Ireland politics. The success of Sinn Féin was interpreted as a symbolic milestone in the post-Good Friday Agreement era, though it did not immediately translate into a surge in support for a border poll on Irish unification. The decline of the Democratic Unionist Party and the rise of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland were seen as indicators of growing voter frustration with traditional sectarian divisions and a move towards middle-ground, issue-based politics. The ongoing impasse over the Northern Ireland Protocol and subsequent Windsor Framework highlighted the profound ongoing impact of Brexit on the region's stability and the fragility of its power-sharing institutions established by the Belfast Agreement.
Category:2022 elections in the United Kingdom Category:2022 in Northern Ireland Category:Northern Ireland Assembly elections