Apathy in the Assembly election reflects comparatively good community relations, writes DEAGLÁN de BRÉADÚN, Political Correspondent
A LEADING participant in the protracted talks leading up to the original Belfast Agreement of Good Friday 1998 used to say: “It’s like watching paint dry, but without the same sense of vibrancy and movement.”
That was true in spades yesterday as candidates, election workers, journalists and pundits in television and radio studios drummed their fingers impatiently for hour upon hour to no avail.
It was difficult not to be nostalgic for the old days when at least you could rely on the Rev Ian Paisley to come out with some colourful saying or phrase to keep you entertained.
This election was a Paisley-free zone although Big Ian’s son, Ian jnr, surfaced briefly but colourfully to dismiss a political opponent in the following terms: “Every circus needs a clown.”
The snail’s pace of events was underlined by the results coming in from across the water, one of which is quite likely to have massive implications for the North. That was, of course, the stunning victory of the Scottish nationalists, who will no doubt be demanding a referendum on independence, leading to similar demands from nationalists in Northern Ireland.
It’s all grist to Sinn Féin’s mill, of course, and early tallies and estimates, as distinct from all-too-scarce actual figures, suggested the party’s election machine was more than living up to its reputation for slickness and clever vote-management. First Minister Peter Robinson was also having a good day, particularly in light of where he had been at the time of the “Irisgate” revelations. Greeted warmly wherever he went, the man was a living testimony to the topsy-turvy nature of political life.
Time was when the North invariably showed high turnouts at election time. In most societies this would be a good sign but not in “Norniron”, where it reflected community tensions and the anxiety not to give an inch to each side’s sectarian opposite numbers.
Apathy is not good for the democratic process in the long run but the lack of interest in the Assembly election can be seen as reflecting comparatively good community relations.
The affability between the First Minister and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has doubtless contributed to this: if those two are getting along, then how can anyone else be fighting?
Moderate unionists used to lament that “the Prod in the garden centre” was too busy choosing a weedkiller for his nasturtiums to get out and vote against the extremists, but nearly everyone is so moderate nowadays that it doesn’t matter any more.
The count for the West Tyrone and Fermanagh-South Tyrone constituencies at Omagh Leisure Complex came very close to farce at certain stages.
The count centre was alive with reports (later dismissed) of rain-soaked votes having to be held under hairdryers , officials getting locked out of their computers and a postal ballot being omitted from the verification process.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, who was taking a break from leaders’ questions in the Dáil to revisit his old stomping ground, reacted sharply when it was suggested he “must feel detached” by pointing out that he had not gone to Siberia. The slow-motion proceedings at the Omagh count got a bit much for DUP Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster, who removed her shoes as she faced the television cameras for an interview. But she did not step down from her political platform.
The BBC’s Mark Devenport said the day’s proceedings reminded him of being in a restaurant and ordering food but having to wait hours before it was placed on the table. Finally, the figures started to come in; there wasn’t much in the way of drama, thrills and spills but, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, yawn, yawn is better than war, war.