Laura Taouchanov 1:48 p.m., May 05, 2022

In Northern Ireland, the issue is crucial.

The legislative elections are held this Thursday in the country and for the first time in a century, the Republicans could obtain the majority.

An election that would allow reunification with the Republic of Ireland.

In the suburbs of Belfast, young pro-republican activists are working to gather voices.

Historic moment for Northern Ireland.

For the first time in 100 years, the country could be run by Republicans.

Northern Irish people began voting in local elections on Thursday.

For the nation, the challenge is to renew the Assembly of the province, the devolved legislature composed of 90 deputies.

In Northern Ireland, the vote could redefine the United Kingdom.

The latest poll of the campaign gives an eight-point lead to Sinn Féin, in favor of reunification with the Republic of Ireland, ahead of the Unionists of the DUP, the first party of the outgoing assembly, neck and neck with the centrist party Alliance.

"The referendum is only a matter of time"

In the suburbs of Belfast, young activists are active.

In this small village of herders, people traditionally vote for the Labor Party.

But Michael and Tiarna, 21-year-old Republican activists, don't really need convincing. 

They knock on doors.

A woman opens the door and reassures them: "I will obviously vote for Sinn Féin. My boyfriend lives on the border and this referendum is only a matter of time. We all know that."

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Michael and Tiarna are aware of this new emerging opinion.

"Places like here have changed. Rural Ireland would never have been so Republican before. It's great."

Tiarna, she believes that "Brexit is the perfect example of a hasty poll that failed".

"So we will have to anticipate this referendum well." 

A victory for Sinn Féin, the former political showcase of the Irish Republican Army, would propel its vice-president Michelle O'Neill to the post of head of local government, supposed to bring together nationalists and unionists under the peace agreement of 1998. But it could also lead to paralysis.