Northern Ireland’s DUP faces daunting challenges

Significance

Poots’s election comes against the backdrop of Unionist anger over the Northern Ireland protocol (NIP) and the DUP’s dwindling support in the polls. Poots has said his main objective is to abolish the NIP.

Impacts

• Political tension over the NIP in the lead-up to the Unionist 'marching season' in July could trigger more social unrest and riots.
• An EU-UK veterinary agreement would go a long way in reducing trade disruption between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
• A poor result for the DUP in next year’s elections would weaken further its ability to scrap the NIP.