THE
ASSEMBLY ELECTION The challenge for `new nationalists'; A new brand of nationalism
may be emerging,
writes Deaglan de Breadun, Northern Editor
Now we have the Assembly about to be born, probably next Wednesday, with
the inevitable pulling and dragging over Sinn Fein's membership of the executive.
By the autumn, after more than a few media cliffhangers, we could well see
the establishment of an unprecedented power-sharing "shadow" administration
embracing some of the most unlikely political partners ever to sit around
a cabinet table. After that, the "new nationalism" will face some hard choices
and difficult challenges.
The biggest difficulty will be coming to terms with their neighbours, now
their fellow-ministers, who still retain a completely contrary view of what
is good for the people of Northern Ireland and the direction this society
ought to take for the future. Catholic, Protestant and dissenter will be
playing on the same team, but will they have the same game plan?
The other interesting development to watch will be the relationship between
the SDLP and Sinn Fein. The lines are becoming blurred already, and some
imaginative souls like to speculate about an eventual pan-nationalist party
with John Hume and Gerry Adams as president and vice-president respectively.
Many will say this is a fanciful notion, especially given the class differences
between the two parties, but considering all the extraordinary things that
have come to pass already, it might be foolish to rule it out for ever.
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