Sinn Fein names new leader ahead of N. Ireland election

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Michelle O’Neill was named Monday the new leader of Sinn Fein party following the recent retirement of Martin McGuinness due to ill health.

The appointment came ahead of the March 2 Assembly election called by the U.K.’s secretary of state for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire, last week following the collapse of the country’s power-sharing government after Sinn Fein refused to nominate a new deputy first minister.

McGuinness had stepped down a fortnight ago over a financial mismanagement scandal involving his opposite number, First Minister Arlene Foster.

Power-sharing rules in the divided territory mean if the Deputy First Minister stands down, the First Minister is also forced out of their position.

The resignation of the Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister was in apparent protest at the handling of a botched energy scheme which could cost the taxpayer £490 million ($597 million).

Michelle O’Neill, who is a member of the Assembly, was appointed health minister in 2016 after having served as the minister of agriculture and rural development since 2011.