By Amanda Ferguson

BELFAST (Reuters) – Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the IRA, hailed its first election win in Northern Ireland’s history as a “defining moment” for the British-controlled region and called for a debate on the creation of a united Ireland.

Official results revealed that Sinn Fein received 29% first preference votes, compared to 21.3% for the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party. Although the official seat count is not yet known, analysts believe that Sinn Fein will be the victor.

“Today is a momentous day of transformation. Michelle O’Neill (head of party region), said that it was a “defining moment” in politics and in people’s lives.

She said there should now be an “honest debate” around the party’s goal of unifying the territory with the Republic of Ireland.

A journalist asked her if she thought she would become the First Minister for Ireland in the region. She replied, “The people have spoken.”

As the British government has discretion over the matter, and it is likely to be many years before the referendum on leaving the United Kingdom takes place, the Sinn Fein win will not affect the status of the region.

The symbolic consequences of Irish nationalist dominance are enormous. They end a century-long period of pro-British parties that were largely supported by the region’s Protestant population.

According to demographic trends, the election will be dominated by pro-British Catholic Protestant parties that would soon be overthrown by Catholic Irish nationalist parties that favor unifying the Republic of Ireland and the north.

The cross-community Alliance Party, however, scored the best ever results as it tries to become a third pillar in the political system.

The largest party is entitled to nominate a First Minister candidate for the region’s mandatory power-sharing government. But, disagreements over the DUP could mean that such an appointment may be delayed by months.