Updated 9pm
MICHELLE O’NEILL MLA will be the new vice president of Sinn Féin after she was the only member nominated for the position.
The deadline for candidates to be nominated closed at 5pm today and Sinn Féin has confirmed that O’Neill become the deputy to Mary Lou McDonald on 10 February.
McDonald – the party’s current Leas Uachtarán - will officially become the party’s president at a special Ard Fheis on that date
O’Neill is currently the party’s leader in the north and will now also become vice president of the all-Ireland party.
Other senior members of the Sinn Féin party, including housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin, ruled themselves out of the running for the deputy leadership.
Speaking after her new position was confirmed, O’Neill said that she was “honoured” to take on the role.
“We are entering a new political era and Sinn Féin will continue to be on the frontline leading positive change to improve the daily lives of ordinary people across Ireland,” she said.
“Sinn Féin wants to be in government north and south to deliver high quality public services on the basis of equality, rights, and prosperity.”
Sinn Féin’s national chairperson Declan Kearney said that Mary Lou McDonald taking the helm from Gerry Adams was “the clearest signal to date that the process of renewal and regeneration of the party is now well under way”.
- With reporting by Rónán Duffy
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