ALLIANCE leader Naomi Long has said the Assembly's system for designating the first and deputy first minister posts is facing scrutiny after a new poll placed her party's support level with the DUP.
The LucidTalk poll has left the Alliance Party level with the DUP as the second most popular most party in the north at 16 percent.
Ms Long said the results "challenge the structures of the Assembly", which reserves the Deputy and First Minister roles for the largest nationalist and unionist parties.
Key decisions are based on the need to secure majority of both nationalists and unionists, a system which could be undermined if Alliance emerge from the next election as one of the largest parties.
Other parties to see a boost in support include the Ulster Unionists receiving 14 percent support, according to the poll which also has the SDLP falling one point to 11 pe rcent.
Ms Long said: "Crucially, Alliance continues to be snapping at the heels of the DUP, to be the second-largest party in Northern Ireland.
"That is an interesting prospect because it very much challenges the structures of the Assembly, that say if you don't designate as a unionist or a nationalist, you're in some way not entitled to represent the people who vote for you, in the same way as other parties.
"It could affect, for example, the deputy and first Minister posts, but it will also affect things like cross cross-community voting.
"So, I think the designation system at the Assembly has never been under more scrutiny than it is now, given the progress that Alliance has made."
The Alliance leader urged people to consider how to accommodate "a much larger section of the community that don't designate as unionist or nationalist, in a way that is fully democratic and fair".
