The Rev Ian Paisley has decided not to stand for re-election to the European Parliament in June. The Democratic Unionist Party has not yet nominated a replacement, and is expected to take some weeks to find a successor.
There was speculation last night that the DUP could run two candidates, one of them UUP defector Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, in an effort to inflict more electoral damage on Mr David Trimble's party.
The announcement, made at Stormont yesterday, was a significant political shock. Mr Paisley had taken a lower media profile during November's Assembly election .
He has topped the poll in each of the five European Parliament elections since 1979 and safely held one of Northern Ireland's three seats in the Strasbourg assembly.
Rumours persist about the health of the 77-year-old DUP leader. He insisted yesterday he was not quitting and that he would see out his current term in Strasbourg. He said he would lead the party's delegations to the review of the Belfast Agreement which the British and Irish governments announced yesterday would commence on February 3rd.
Mr Paisley said the party would name three delegations for talks on each of the three strands of the agreement. He would lead each, he said.
"We are serious about these talks," he said.
"Because of this I am not running away from Europe. I'm going to finish my course there. But I am not going back to Europe.
"I am going to be here in Northern Ireland. I am going to be in every one of these talks. Bertie Ahern will get away with nothing," he said.
"Traditional unionism," he said, was on the march and he would be to the fore in leading it.
He shrugged off stories about his health, quoting his doctor who said he was "strong in wind and limb". He dismissed talk of any imminent retirement.
Sinn Féin suggested that the decision marked the beginning of the DUP's move away from Paisleyism and the emergence of a newer generation under the leadership of key figures such as deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson and North Belfast MP Mr Nigel Dodds.
Mr Dodds is thought to be among the forerunners to succeed Mr Paisley's at Strasbourg. He worked as Dr Paisley's aide there and knows the European scene well. Mr Ian Paisley jnr is also mentioned as a possible replacement as is former Mid Ulster MP Rev William McCrea.
The party could decide to run two candidates, possibly Mr McCrea and Mr Donaldson. This would be a significant challenge to the UUP's Mr Jim Nicholson.
Mr Robinson praised his party leader's record and restated the DUP aim of securing a replacement for the Belfast Agreement.