 and a Sinn Féin first minister? Don't rule it out. The next election is scheduled for 2025. It can't come soon enough for Mary Lou McDonald and her team. Image caption, Taoiseach Micheál Martin accused the party of a growing attempt to intimidate its criticsWith increased poll ratings, comes increased scrutiny. In the past week, the party's housing spokesperson had to apologise after calling for the country's chief){kind=link}
Sinn Fein is keen to get back into government in Stormont – both Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill have already made that clear.
There are two reasons for that.
Michelle O’Neill will make history as the first nationalist first minister in Northern Ireland. She’s already won the right to that job, but is waiting on a start date.
That will depend on the DUP lifting its veto on the institutions.
There’s no sign of that in the short term.