Paul Givan

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Paul Givan (2016)

Paul Jonathan Givan (born 12 October 1981 in Lisburn ) is a Unionist DUP politician of Northern Ireland . He has been a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly since 2010 and served as Co-Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from 17 June 2021, succeeding Arlene Foster . On February 3, 2022, he announced his resignation as First Minister , effective midnight of the same day , in protest at the Northern Ireland Protocol . Givan's resignation automatically ended Michelle O'Neill 's role as Deputy First Secretary.

career

Paul Jonathan Givan was born on October 12, 1981 at Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn. He is the second of five siblings and comes from a family with long ties to the DUP: his grandfather Herbie was a founding member and his father Alan, a former corrections officer, represents the party on Lisburn and Castlereagh Borough Council . Givan was educated at Laurelhill Community College , Lisburn , before graduating from the University of Ulster with degrees in business administration and practical management.

Givan has been friends with Edwin Poots for many years. Both are from Lisburn and know each other from their time together on the local council. He later worked part-time for Poots in his MP's office and, when he came into government, as an adviser. He lost that post in 2008 after Poots was sacked as Minister for Culture . Givan then worked for a trade organization. Following Poots' return to the Government bench as Minister for the Environment , Givan was re-appointed as his adviser in 2008-2009.

Political career

Givan began his political career in 2005 after his election to Lisburn City Council. After Jeffrey Donaldson won a seat in the 2010 General Election and moved to London to the House of Commons , Givan took his seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Lagan Valley constituency . He won the mandate again in the 2011 , 2016 and 2017 elections .

From May 2016 to March 2017, Givan served as Minister for the Department for Communities . In that capacity, he announced in December 2016 that he would be cutting funding for an Irish language scholarship program called Líofa ; he provided the associated message to those affected with Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Gerry Adams , party leader of Sinn Féin , then described him as an "ignoramus". The government, which was already burdened by a scandal surrounding a program to promote renewable energies (RHI) that had gone completely out of control, collapsed shortly afterwards. Sinn Féin MP Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said Givan's letter was the straw that broke the camel's back . Shortly thereafter, Givan reversed the cut.

In July 2016, Givan's participation in a bonfire organized by radical Protestants on the eve of Orangemen's Day in South Tyrone drew criticism; As head of the Department for Communities, he must ensure a balance between the various social and cultural groups. It is therefore not appropriate to appear at such an event. His attendance at a Gaelic football game in Lisburn in 2016 was well received.

On 8 June 2021, Poots, who has since risen to become leader of the DUP, announced that he had proposed Givan as the new First Minister, replacing Foster. Co-Prime Minister Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Féin had to give her approval for this. Foster resigned on June 14, 2021, leaving seven days for an agreement between the parties. This took place within three days and included a compromise on the controversial promotion of the Irish language: If the Northern Ireland Assembly has not enacted a corresponding law by the end of September, the British House of Commons should decide. Givet took office on June 17. The agreement triggered an internal revolt within the DUP, as a result of which Poots resigned the party chairmanship that same evening. The DUP deputies then voted in an internal vote clearly (24 to 4) against Givan's nomination. He was then informed by the party leadership that he should resign after the appointment of a new party leader. Jeffrey Donaldson was elected as the new party leader, but he does not have a mandate in the Northern Irish Parliament and so could not be elected as First Minister. Thus, Givan remained in the post of head of government. After Donaldson announced his intention to run in the May 2022 Assembly election in the Givan constituency, Givan confirmed that he would also seek a seat there.

As a result, he tightened the course of his party; among other things, he refused to participate in cross-border meetings with the Republic of Ireland. On 3 February 2022, Givan announced his resignation as First Minister in protest at the Northern Ireland Protocol . As a result, Deputy First Secretary Michelle O'Neill lost her position.

political positions

Givan belongs to the right wing of his party, shaped by Ian Paisley , and is an evangelical Protestant . He represents creationist views and in 2007 he called for the theory of creation and intelligent design to be taught in schools in addition to the theory of evolution . In February 2021, Givan introduced a bill to tighten the law on abortion : The existing regulation, which allows an abortion without a time limit in the case of severe mental or physical damage, should be limited to cases in which the child is not viable. Like Poots, Givan belongs to the wing of his party opposed to the post - Brexit EU-UK trade deal .

private

Givan is married and has three daughters. He is a member of the Free Presbyterian Church .

web links

  • Paul Givan on the Northern Ireland Assembly website

itemizations

  1. ↑ see also Björn Finke, and Michael Neudecker (sueddeutsche.de): What the breach of protocol means
  2. ↑ Vincent Kearney, Paul Givan resigns as NI First Minister , rte.ie, published and accessed 3 February 2022.
  3. ↑ Alex Kane: Paul Givan: Conscience clause MLA a politician on a mission. Belfast Telegraph , 19 December 2014, accessed 11 June 2021. (English)
  4. ^ a b Stefan Kornelius : Paul Givan. Süddeutsche Zeitung , June 9, 2021, retrieved June 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ a b c Claire Simpson: Potential first minister Paul Givan partly blamed for previous assembly collapse. The Irish News , 3 May 2021, accessed 10 June 2021. (English)
  6. ↑ Freya McClements: Who is Paul Givan, Northern Ireland's next first minister? The Irish Times , 5 June 2021, accessed 10 June 2021. (English)
  7. ^ a b DUP: Who are the new members of Edwin Poots' ministerial team? BBC News 9 June 2021, accessed same day. (English)
  8. ↑ a b c d e Gareth Gordon: Paul Givan: How will the new first minister handle the top job? BBC News 8 June 2021, retrieved the following day. (English)
  9. ↑ Who is Paul Givan? MLA set for top job at Stormont. RTE , June 8, 2021, retrieved June 12, 2021 (English)
  10. ↑ Paul Ainsworth, Allison Morris Scrapping of Irish language bursary 'straw that broke the camel's back'. The Irish News, January 10, 2017, accessed June 10, 2021.
  11. ↑ Mal Rogers: DUP Communities Minister Paul Givan criticized for lighting Eleventh Night bonfire in Northern Ireland. The Irish Post 18 July 2016, accessed 10 June 2021. (English)
  12. ↑ Paul Givan appointed new Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Der Spiegel , June 8, 2021, accessed on the same day.
  13. ↑ Arlene Foster urges NI parties to stick to language deal. BBC News 14 June 2021, accessed same day. (English)
  14. ↑ Ralf Sotscheck: New government in Northern Ireland: With your back against the wall. taz , June 17, 2021, retrieved on the same day.
  15. ↑ Colm Kelpie, Ciara Colhoun: DUP revolt over first minister confirmation. BBC News 17 June 2021, accessed same day.
  16. ↑ DUP leader Edwin Poots resigns amid internal party revolt. BBC News 18 June 2021, accessed same day.
  17. ↑ Northern Ireland: DUP looking for new leader as Edwin Poots quits BBC News. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  18. ↑ DUP: Paul Givan told he must resign as first minister BBC News . 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  19. ↑ DUP leadership : Sir Jeffrey Donaldson ratified as party leader BBC . June 30, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  20. ↑ Enda McClafferty: Likely plotlines for the Donaldson DUP script BBC . June 23, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  21. ↑ Edwin Poots and Paul Givan plan to run in 2022 assembly election BBC . August 25, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  22. ↑ NI Protocol: Paul Givan defends DUP boycott of north-south meetings BBC . October 12, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  23. ↑ DUP boycott: Judge says Paul Givan 'cannot hide behind joint office ' BBC . November 5, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  24. ↑ Damien Edgar & Eimear Flanagan: DUP: NI First Minister Paul Givan announces resignation BBC . February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  25. ↑ Row brews over DUP call for schools to teach creationism. Ulster Star , 20 September 2007, 20 February 2020 version at the Internet Archive .
  26. ↑ Northern Ireland abortion law changes proposed by the DUP. BBC News, 16 February 2021, accessed 10 June 2021. (English)
personal data
SURNAME Givan, Paul
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Givan, Paul Jonathan (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Northern Ireland politician (DUP), Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
BIRTH DATE October 12, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH Lisburn , Northern Ireland , United Kingdom