Distretto Nord

Peter Robinson lascia il posto di Primo Ministro

First Minister Robinson steps aside

Peter Robinson has stepped aside as Northern Ireland’s First Minister.

Assembly speaker William Hay told surprised politicians in the chamber that Northern Ireland’s current enterprise minister Arlene Foster has been asked to temporarily take on the functions of First Minister.

Mr Hay told the chamber: “The designation takes immediate effect.”

He said he was calling a meeting of party whips to discuss the surprise move.

Stormont officials said the procedural device could last for six weeks.

The shock move comes just one hour after DUP colleagues backed the beleaguered Mr Robinson, who was under pressure to resign over the scandal surrounding his wife’s undisclosed financial dealings with her lover, but remains at the head of his party.

Earlier Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds, flanked by party faithful including former leader the Rev Ian Paisley, said they offered Mr Robinson their “wholehearted support” as leader and as First Minister.

Mr Dodds said: “The Democratic Unionist Party officers, Assembly Group, Parliamentary Party and European Member, and in due course there will be a meeting of the party Executive, unanimously agreed despite attempts by members of the press and our political opponents to press the Rt Hon Peter Robinson to resign as party leader – we offer him our wholehearted support and our desire for him to remain in office as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.”

Reacting to the proposed move, TUV leader Jim Allister said it appeared to him to be “a choreographed soft landing for Peter Robinson”. He suspected that he would never return to the post of First Minister.

The First Minister, who has vowed to clear his name after vehemently denying any knowledge of his wife’s irregular financial affairs, will address the assembly on Monday afternoon amid calls for his resignation.

The first couple have been plunged into crisis after it emerged that Mrs Robinson had secured £50,000 from two wealthy developers to help her then 19-year-old lover Kirk McCambley set up a restaurant business in south Belfast.

A BBC documentary further alleged that her husband became aware of the situation but did not take steps to alert the appropriate authorities.

If Mr Robinson resigns, the posts of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, held by Martin McGuinness, would have to be filled, throwing the future of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing Executive into question.

Sinn Fein could delay nominating unless the DUP agreed to a timescale for the devolution of policing and justice.

If the power vacuum is not resolved within seven days it would fall to Secretary of State Shaun Woodward to call a Northern Ireland election.

Mr McGuinness has asked for legal advice on whether Assembly rules were breached after Mr Robinson failed to report his wife Iris to the parliamentary authorities for obtaining loans for her teenage lover.

Sinn Fein Chief Whip Carál Ní Chuilín said determining whether the Members’ Code of Conduct has been breached was a “matter of urgency”.

Sinn Fein has also requested an emergency motion to outline to the Assembly any possible implications for the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister from the allegations made in the television programme.

The motion has still to be accepted by Stormont Speaker William Hay.

On Monday, a spokesman for Gordon Brown said the Prime Minister remained focused on completing devolution of policing powers from London to Belfast.

“The Prime Minister remains fully engaged on the issue,” he said.

“The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is in constant contact with the Prime Minister on the issue and the Prime Minister has spoken in recent days with the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, and to the Northern Ireland party leaders.”

Mrs Robinson announced over Christmas that she was quitting politics because of severe depression. She will now stand down sooner than planned as an MP, MLA and local councillor. Her DUP membership of the party was also terminated.

On Sunday night, Mr Robinson revealed his wife was currently receiving acute psychiatric treatment from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Annuncio dello Speaker, William Hay

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Sostegno del DUP a Peter Robinson

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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