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Sinn Fein chief Mary Lou McDonald (l) and deputy leader Michelle O'Neill in Parliament in Belfast on January 10, 2020, giving her party's support for an agreement to revive the power-sharing government. Paul Faith / AFP

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the nationalists of Sinn Féin accepted Friday, January 10, the draft agreement devised by London and Dublin to restore an autonomous power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. This “devolution” government, provided for by peace agreements, had been suspended since the withdrawal of Sinn Féin in January 2017.

With our correspondent in London, Muriel Delcroix

After three years of fierce resistance, the two main parties in Northern Ireland have agreed to get back to work together on the benches of the Assembly of Stormont.

Thursday evening, the British and Irish governments had issued an ultimatum to them by publishing a draft take it or leave it deal. Lack of consensus by Monday, London had planned to call local elections.

DUP leader Arlene Foster had quickly said yes to a compromise agreement she said was far from " perfect " but " fair and balanced ". The head of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald followed suit on Friday acknowledging that now with this agreement " a basis for power sharing " and welcoming " a historic day ".

The text offers for the first time official recognition of the Irish language and plans to speed up the functioning of the justice system and anti-corruption mechanisms.

The restoration of Stormont is all the more important as the assembly of the province has a say in the customs provisions of the Brexit agreement negotiated by London and Brussels, controversial arrangements to avoid the return of a border physical with the Republic of Ireland.

► Also listen: Brexit, the Northern Irish puzzle