Givan's resignation, in protest at post-Brexit trade rules, had
sparked calls by the region's two largest political parties for
an earlier vote.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said new legislation
passed in the British parliament meant the regional assembly
could continue to function despite Givan's resignation.
"The assembly under the new rules can continue to function, it's
right we allow MLAs [Members of the Legislative Assembly] time
and space to pass legislation," Lewis said.
Opinion polls suggest Sinn Fein may pass the Democratic Unionist
Party to become Northern Ireland's largest party for the first
time.
(Reporting by Ian Graham and Conor Humphries; editing by William
James)
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