Sinn Fein, the Irish nationalist party has emerged as the biggest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, following elections held last week.
Sinn Fein emerged with nearly 30% of the vote, giving it 27 seats in the 90-member legislative body.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) came second with 25 seats, three fewer than it won in the previous election in 2017. The liberal Alliance party was third, jumping by nine seats to 17.
The other seats were shared between the Ulster Unionist Party (nine seats), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (eight seats) and Traditional Unionist Voice and People Before Profit, which each won one seat. Two independents also won seats.
Under Northern Ireland’s power-sharing system of government Sinn Fein now has the right to appoint the First Minister, with the DUP given the power to appoint the deputy to this position.
Sinn Fein is now the largest party in both Northern Ireland and the neighbouring Republic of Ireland, which could see advocacy and momentum for a united Ireland to grow.