The reversal of the forces in 2003
The Ulster Unionist Party was the largest party after the elections in 1998.
But their failure of building a constant government with the Social Democratic and Labour Party and many conflicts inside the party had cost them their confidents and in order to that their votes in the elections in 2003.
Instead, the Protestants voted for the Democratic Unionist Party and consequently they were the largest party on Protestant side.
You remember: The Democratic Unionist Party was the only party, which was against the Good Friday Agreement.
On the Nationalist or Catholic side, Sinn Féin overtook the Social Democratic and Labour Party.
You may also remember that Sinn Féin is the political wing of the IRA, the Irish Republican Army.
In conclusion, we now have two extremist parties at the top of Northern Irish policy.
It was a big question if they would manage to build a working government, now the moderates had failed.
Indeed, it was a long and hard process, but in the end, it worked.
