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The Assembly of Northern Ireland has met for the first time this Saturday 11 January in three years. The leader of the main unionist party Arlene Foster has taken over the post of Prime Minister, assisted by her Sinn Féin counterpart Michelle O'Neill. RFI met more or less relieved North Irish people.
With our correspondent in Belfast, Emeline Vin
Stormont's palace sits in the middle of a vast park. For 3 years, Jonathan has taken advantage of the calm to walk dogs.
" I'm glad they got along, " he says. It was high time. Hopefully they will solve some of the problems that have been overlooked, because no one has made any decisions for three years. "
At the foot of the steps that lead to the palace, not everyone shares their enthusiasm. Ray, British flag in hand, contemplates the Assembly with contempt: “ It is a palace of traitors. DUP sold us to Irish Republican terrorists. From a Protestant or Unionist loyalist point of view, they compromised on everything. "
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The Unionist party has agreed to recognize the Irish language, a red line so far. Inside the palace, Pat McCullen follows the comings and goings of the deputies. It is the secretary of the main hospital union, who has been on strike for several months to demand more resources.
" Quite cynically, we are aware that the British government has used our strike to put pressure on local politicians. Our public services have been desperately neglected, now there is much to be repaired, ”she says.
Pressed to get to work, the deputies rush into the room. On the menu of the first works: public services precisely and the functioning of political life.