Martin McGuinness: Ex-deputy first minister will not stand in NI election
Martin McGuinness, former IRA leader turned peacemaker, has confirmed he will not stand in the Northern Ireland Assembly election.
He quit as deputy first minister in a row over a botched green energy scheme, sparking an election on 2 March.
He had been in the post since entering NI’s power-sharing assembly in 2007 with ex-political enemy Ian Paisley.
Mr McGuinness, 66, has been ill for a number of weeks and said this was a factor in his decision.
Mr McGuinness told the BBC that he had faced a “big decision” over his future and that he will never again be “an elected representative” in politics.
“The question I ask myself is: Are you capable, are you physically capable, of fighting this election with the intensity that elections need to be fought?
“And the honest answer is that I am not physically capable or able to fight this election, so I will not be a candidate.”
He added that his successor as Sinn Féin’s leader in Northern Ireland would be announced “next week”.
‘Polar opposite backgrounds’
Prime Minister Theresa May said Mr McGuinness “played a key role in moving the republican movement towards a position of using peaceful and democratic means”.
“I want to send him best wishes for his retirement,” she added. “We will all continue to work to make sure that the people of Northern Ireland are able to live freely and in peace.”
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster, who lost her position as first minister when Mr McGuinness resigned, said that he had been a “major figure” in Stormont.
“While never forgetting the past, I believe the work at Stormont provided the foundations for our relative peace today.
“Despite all that has happened, I wish Martin McGuinness a speedy recovery and that he and his wife are able to enjoy time with their family away from the relentless focus of public life.”
Former first minister Peter Robinson, who worked with Mr McGuinness at the head of Northern Ireland’s government for seven years, said: “We came from polar opposite backgrounds but built up a relationship based on doing the best we could for all our people.”
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny said that while he and Mr McGuinness “may not always have seen eye-to-eye on every issue” he would “readily acknowledge the remarkable political journey that he has undertaken”.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire said he was “sorry to hear” about Mr McGuinness’ decision.
Details of Mr McGuinness’ condition have not been disclosed officially by Sinn Féin but Irish national broadcaster RTÉ has reported that he has a rare heart condition.
