SDLP Deputy Leader Nicolas Malone has lost his seat in North Belfast to Nuala McAllister of the Alliance.
This comes on the second day of the 2022 parliamentary election count, with Sinn Fein firmly on track to become Stormont’s largest party.
Ms. Malone has also been Minister of Infrastructure for the past two years.
Read more:Follow the results LIVE when they appear
She was first elected as the SDLP MLA for North Belfast in May 2016. Prior to that, she represented Oldpark DEA on Belfast City Council for six years and was Lord Mayor of the City in 2014.
In a statement posted with a photo of her three children, Ms. Malone said: “It has been a privilege to serve the people of North Belfast as a counselor and then an MLA for the past 12 years. I want to thank every single person who came out to vote for me during this time. It’s time for a new chapter and a lot, a lot of time with these three. “
The Belfast North countdown was the last to be completed at the Belfast TEC, with five new MLAs taking the stage at 6pm on Saturday.
Along with Nuala McAllister, Sinn Fein took two places, with Gary Kelly and Caral Ni Chuilin securing MLA roles. DUP’s Philip Brett and Brian Kingston stood together while their names were called as newly elected representatives.
According to Stormont’s rules, if the current executive minister fails to be re-elected, the legislation is clearly defined.
The vacancy returns to the political party that nominated the minister, and that party has seven days to nominate a deputy.
The Protocol on Northern Ireland cast a long shadow over the election campaign following the resignation of Prime Minister Paul Givan in February in a bid to force the UK government to act on post-Brexit trade agreements.
This action left the executive branch unable to function fully.
While ministers like Ms. Malone remained in office, they were limited in the actions they could take.
Read more related articles Read more related articles
On Friday, the newly elected MLA in South Belfast, Matthew O’Toole, described it as a difficult day for the SDLP.
Mr O’Toole was the last member of the Assembly to be elected at the Titanic Exhibition Center late Friday night.
He said that although it felt good to be elected, the day was difficult for his SDLP colleagues.
He said there had been a change in nationalism towards Sinn Fein in response to the focus on the party’s prospect of leading the election and being able to nominate a prime minister.
This will be the first nationalist or Republican prime minister in the history of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
SDLP veteran Dolores Kelly lost her seat in the Upper Bann and there were concerns about the fate of some others as the Stormont election count continues.
Daniel Maccrosan, who was elected to the West Tyrone party on Saturday, acknowledged that the election was difficult for the nationalist party.
He offered his full support to party leader Colum Eastwood and defended the UDF’s campaign.
“I think Colum Eastwood led this election very, very strongly. I think the campaign was energetic, we had fantastic candidates. I’m talking about politics here in the north of Ireland.
“In this election, everyone at the door told me that they want change, the reality is exactly the same mandate, only in a slightly larger number, was given to the DUP and Shin Fein. Is this an election for change?
Read more: Election results in South Belfast NI: Two for the Alliance as Green Party’s Claire Bailey loses seat
Read more: NI Election 2022 Analysis: Politics in Northern Ireland now has three tribes instead of two
For the latest political news right in your inbox , sign up for our newsletter here .
Add Comment