By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON (AA) – British prime minister Theresa May said her government is treating the political situation in Northern Ireland with ‘the utmost seriousness’ Wednesday.
May said at the parliament, during the weekly prime minister’s question time session that they were putting every effort to find a solution to the power sharing but also added that election of new assembly is likely.
"The legislation is that if within seven days we don't have a nomination for a deputy first minister, then the matter would go to an election," British premier added.
The political situation in Belfast entered the U.K.’s national agenda following the resignation of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness on Monday evening.
McGuinness stepped down 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.
“Prime Minister Theresa May and Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke about working together for a solution to the situation in Northern Ireland,” a government statement also said.
First Minister Arlene Foster said on Tuesday that she is willing to hold talks with Sinn Fein to prevent the collapse of power sharing.
Calling McGuinness’s resignation “not principal”, Foster, the Democratic Unionist party leader, added. She said she was ready to support a public inquiry into the botched green energy scheme.
Foster underlined that she was not afraid of election for a new assembly.