Sinn Féin’s biggest party at Stormont as all 90 MLAs confirmed in historic win

Sinn Féin has won the most seats in the general election in a historic moment for the nationalist party.

The final results were announced just after 1 a.m. Sunday, with all 90 MLAs now selected.

After counting the votes, Sinn Fein finished with 27 MLAs, overtaking the DUP with 25 to become the largest party in Stormont.

The Alliance Party finished with 17 MLAs, more than double 2017, the Ulster Unionists nine and the SDLP eight.

The count ended in Foyle, where the final two MLAs were finally confirmed after an intense count that began early Friday.

Sinead McLaughlin was elected for the SDLP on Saturday night, with Gary Middleton taking the last seat. That completed the MLAs’ 90-man lineup after UUP nominee Ryan McCready conceded around 12:45 a.m., with the count entering its third day.

In her statement at Magherafelt, Ms O’Neill said it was the beginning of a “new era”.

“Today marks a very significant moment of change. Today marks a new era that I believe offers us all the opportunity to build relationships in this society based on fairness, equality and social justice to redesign.” She said.

“Regardless of religious, political or social background, I am committed to making politics work.”

In a statement released on Saturday night, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said all political parties and elected officials must now work towards the formation of a new executive that will serve the interests of all people in Northern Ireland.

“It is now incumbent upon all political parties and elected officials to carry out their mandate through the appointment of a First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the formation of a new Executive to serve the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland,” the statement said.

Mr Martin said a new power-sharing executive was “vital to progress and prosperity for all in Northern Ireland”.

“Power-sharing and principles of partnership, equality and mutual respect are at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement, which has secured peace and made progress for almost 25 years,” he said.

“As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will continue to work in partnership with the UK Government and work with the leaders of political parties in Northern Ireland to seek and support the effective functioning of all political institutions.”

Secretary of State Brandon Lewis said he would meet with all party leaders in the coming days and urge them to “restore the Stormont institutions at the earliest opportunity”.

In an online statement, Mr Lewis said: “I believe the people who voted want a fully functioning devolved government here in Northern Ireland.”

“They want us to deal with the issues surrounding the protocol and ensure that politics works better to deal with a range of domestic issues.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to work to make Northern Ireland a better place and to deliver on that mandate.”