The Assembly's Speaker, Lord Alderdice, can hardly expect a warm welcome when he returns to Stormont this morning to preside over the re-election of Mr David Trimble as First Minister.
Many MLAs were surprised at the Speaker's departure on Friday due to personal business. He is understood to be buying a holiday home in France. The fact that the Assembly was not recalled late on Friday or on Saturday for a re-run of Mr Trimble's election could potentially cause problems for the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid. The DUP may go ahead with a legal challenge on grounds that he let slip the six-week deadline for either renominating a First Minister or calling fresh elections.
While Lord Alderdice is understood to have felt he was not in a position to recall the Assembly at such short notice, Northern Ireland Office sources yesterday felt procedural difficulties could have been overcome. An SDLP spokesman said his party was "negatively surprised". A DUP spokesman said the Speaker needed to be reminded of his responsibilities.