Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland ( Alliance) (Irish Páirtí Comhghuaillíochta Thuaisceart Éireann ) is a non-denominational and regional liberal party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1970. The party supported the union with Great Britain, as long as the majority of the population agrees with this position. The party also stands for formal linkages of Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland. During the negotiations on the Good Friday Agreement, the Alliance Party was involved and campaigned for approval at the next referendum.

In British politics, the party guided by the Liberal Democrats, on the international stage is a member of Liberal International.

With Anna Lo moved during the 2007 elections for the first time a Chinese woman in a European parliament. A native of Hong Kong Member has south of the capital Belfast their constituency. In the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007, the party increased its vote share from 3.6 percent to 5.2 percent and won an additional seat so that she now has seven MPs.

In the British general election on 6 May 2010 the party could win with Naomi Long for the first time a seat in parliament in Westminster. Long defeated in their constituency Belfast East the First Minister of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson of the Democratic Unionist Party, which had the mandate occupied there since 1979. In the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2011, the Alliance continued to grow and was able to win with now 7.5 % of the vote eight seats. It is represented as the only non-denominational party in the Northern Ireland government, where it represents the Minister for Employment and Learning with party leader David Ford the Justice Minister and Stephen Farry.

Party leaders

  • Oliver Napier (1972-1984)
  • John Cushnahan (1984-1987)
  • John Alderdice (1987-1998)
  • Seán Neeson (1998-2001)
  • David Ford (since 2001)
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