“ No pretension to respect Trump ”, says a long

The leader of the Alliance party said that she “would not pretend to respect” US President Donald Trump.

Naomi Long told the annual conference of his party in Belfast that they “took up” by not participating in the White House for the events of Saint-Patrick.

But she said that Alliance “would continue to engage” with those of Washington DC who “remain really interested in Northern Ireland and its future”.

Long said that a “window of opportunity” exists to have “a serious dialogue” on the reform of the deconant institutions of Stormont.

The Alliance Conference This weekend has been its second since the decentralized government of Northern Ireland was restored in February 2024 following a two-year collapse.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had blocked institutions to protest against post-Brexit trade rules, but ended his boycott after an agreement with the British government.

Alliance has two ministers within the framework of four parties of Stormont, with the Minister of Justice and Andrew Muir as Minister of Agriculture.

In his conference speech, party members have long warned that power sharing institutions have remained in danger.

“One of the scandals and disputes in the past year could have turned the institutions upside down, and which can say that something in the coming year, right?”

The Head of the Alliance has long pleaded for changes in voting procedures and to prevent any single party between the establishment of decontized institutions.

Long said that with the functioning of Stormont and the British and Irish governments in place, there was “a crucial window of opportunity to have a serious dialogue on the reform”.

Parties of Stormont and Executive Ministers Generally travel to the United States in March For commitments surrounding Saint-Patrick.

But this year FéinAlliance and the Social Democratic Party and Work (SDLP) said they would not attend the White House celebrations.

He follows Trump’s positions in Israel-Gaza’s conflict.

Vice-Minister Emma Little-Pegely, member of the DUP Assembly, said that she would go to Washington DC.

She said it was important to “maintain long and enriching relationships” with the United States.

Addressing his party conference, Long said that even if others would go to the White House, Alliance “took a stand and refused to do so”.

“To be clear, I respect the law of American citizens to elect who they wish as president,” she said.

“I also respect the president’s office. However, I do not make and will not pretend to respect the current office holder.”

But the head of the Alliance said that his party colleague, a member of the Assembly, Nuala McAlister, would be in Washington “to discuss police and institutional reform issues with the interested parties”.

The Alliance Party is the third largest in the Northern Ireland Assembly and in local councils following elections in recent years.

He had a deputy after the 2024 general elections, after losing his seat in the northern riding, but winning one in the Lagan valley.

The conference is the first of the alliance since the member of the Assembly, Eóin Tennyson, was elected deputy head of the party.

In October, he succeeded Stephen Farry, who resigned After lose one’s sits as a deputy for North Down.

Analysis of Brendan Hughes, BBC News or Political Reporter

The slogan of the Alliance conference this year is “change of change”, but there is no sign of change of leader.

Naomi Long is now in his ninth year in the role – the longest portion of the main parts of Stormont.

The change that Alliance really wants to see is the reform of the power sharing structures of Northern Ireland.

He believes that modifications to voting mechanisms would prevent the largest parts exercising a veto, breaking the numerous collapse cycles of Stormont.

But a year since the off-center government has been restored, is an alliance closer to this objective of which it speaks so often?

Long says that the United Kingdom and Irish governments must use their influence to make it a priority.

But convincing them, as well as his executive partners with four parties, remains a key challenge.