Stormont Assembly Elections 2017

[Main Street]

Is it so that under the rules, Sinn Fein as largest nationalist party, could have had a stint with their leader as first minister but refused the privilege?

You have to be the largest party (seats) to get "privilege" of First Minister

Thanks for clearing that up.

[LeoMc]

So apparently if dup get 2 in south belfast they still can win petition of concern. Ifgreens win one then they don't. According to twitter.

They may also miss out in Lagan valley so could yet finish up on 28. Come on Bailey and Catney.

[Minder]

Is it so that under the rules, Sinn Fein as largest nationalist party, could have had a stint with their leader as first minister but refused the privilege?

You have to be the largest party (seats) to get "privilege" of First Minister

Thanks for clearing that up.

If it's level on seats, as it could be, then it goes to who has the most first preference votes for FM & that would be the DUP

[armaghniac]

So apparently if dup get 2 in south belfast they still can win petition of concern. Ifgreens win one then they don't. According to twitter.

Looks like Pat Catney may get in at DUPs expense in Lagan Valley which would mean no POC for DUP

I would have thought that the DUP would still get more UU transfers than Catney and squeeze in.

[Main Street]

Is it so that under the rules, Sinn Fein as largest nationalist party, could have had a stint with their leader as first minister but refused the privilege?

You have to be the largest party (seats) to get "privilege" of First Minister

Thanks for clearing that up.

If it's level on seats, as it could be, then it goes to who has the most first preference votes for FM & that would be the DUP

In practice though, the deputy can veto the first minister. I'd say the prognosis is very cloudy for the future of this new assembly.

[Rois]

Aw come on Pat!!

[Minder]

Is it so that under the rules, Sinn Fein as largest nationalist party, could have had a stint with their leader as first minister but refused the privilege?

You have to be the largest party (seats) to get "privilege" of First Minister

Thanks for clearing that up.

If it's level on seats, as it could be, then it goes to who has the most first preference votes for FM & that would be the DUP

In practice though, the deputy can veto the first minister. I'd say the prognosis is very cloudy for the future of this new assembly.

Yeah I can't see how anything resembling a functioning administration can happen, not that it was great before now

[LeoMc]

So apparently if dup get 2 in south belfast they still can win petition of concern. Ifgreens win one then they don't. According to twitter.

Looks like Pat Catney may get in at DUPs expense in Lagan Valley which would mean no POC for DUP

I would have thought that the DUP would still get more UU transfers than Catney and squeeze in.

sDLP got more from Palmer than DUP. Next set of UU overages will also contain a lot of her 2nd preferences.

[Jim_Murphy_74]

I presume even if election is deemed a poor one DUP will stick with Arlene and nominate her role of First Minister. 

That would see Shinners hamstrung on their pledge not to support Arlene, meaning no assembly to use their new found seats and a return to direct rule.

Nothing from their past suggests they will actually do something constructive.

/Jim.

[Minder]

Looks like Catney is in

[LeoMc]

Right now we need Bailey picking up sufficient overage from Alliance and SDLP to put Pengelly or Stanford out.

[Farrandeelin]

Looks like Catney is in

He is.

[Harold Disgracey]

That's the petition of concern gone isn't it?

[Minder]

That's the petition of concern gone isn't it?

It is

[armaghniac]

Looks like Catney is in

Definite transfer pattern from the UU, Nesbitt may have achieved something after all.
The SDLP now has two seats, Upper Bann, Lagan Valley that perhaps they wouldn't have expected and which puts a better look on their day.