direct rule
noun/dəˌrekt ˈruːl/, /daɪˌrekt ˈruːl/
/dəˌrekt ˈruːl/, /daɪˌrekt ˈruːl/
[uncountable]- government of a region by a central government, when that region has had its own government in the pastCultureIn the UK direct rule refers to the government of Northern Ireland by the British Parliament instead of by Stormont, the Northern Irish Parliament in Belfast. Direct rule began in 1972 and ended in 1999 when a new Northern Ireland Assembly was elected, but started again in 2003 when the Assembly was suspended. This period of direct rule came to an end in 2007.
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direct rule