Macron remains firm against May and shows him the exit door of the EU

The French government asked the prime minister to explain his plans after asking for a new grace period until June 30 to leave the bloc.

LONDON.- Tired of the eternal return of the unfinished

Brexit

, which goes around in circles without progress or definitions, the French government

Emmanuel Macron

he was firmly planted

Theresa May

after a new request from the prime minister so that the

European Union

(EU) grants another extension until 30 June.

Inside, the Conservative leader had to notice the frustration of the Labor Party, which said it was "disappointed by the government" after three days of talks between Prime Minister and Conservative leader Jeremy Corbyn, another negotiating body that has shown weaknesses.

According to documents to which the British newspaper would have had access
The Guardian, France got at a diplomatic meeting of the bloc the support of Spain and Belgium to free the hand to Britain and let her fired – without agreement – on April 12, as planned when the other 27 members granted a first extension.

The Macron government, still critical of the risks badociated with British indecision, has strengthened its position after May's new call to stay in the bloc until late June, a period in which it hopes to overcome the resistance to which it is confronted even by legislators. from his own conservative party.

In a letter to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, May stated that "Great Britain proposes that this period end on 30 June 2019" and that, if necessary, it be willing to participate in the elections to the European Parliament. June 23rd. May 26, which in principle should not participate. With one foot inside and one outside the bloc, for many European badysts and officials, British participation in the elections represents an unprecedented legal problem.

May promised that if an agreement was reached before that date, his government would propose that the EU extension be completed sooner. "The government will want to agree on a timetable for ratification allowing the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union before 23 May 2019 and, therefore, to cancel the elections to the European Parliament, while continuing to responsibly prepare for its election celebration, "he said in the letter.

But no one in Brussels is convinced that the annexation of another grace period will resolve parliamentary disputes in London. Tusk proposed a longer deadline and urged the 27 bloc countries to propose an extension of up to one year to avoid chaotic Brexit, which could seriously damage global trade.

"The only reasonable solution would be a long but flexible extension," said an EU official. "This seems like a good scenario for both parties as it gives Britain all the flexibility it needs, while avoiding the need to meet regularly to discuss again the breadth of Brexit", a- he added.

The division that exists in the British Parliament has no modern precedent. One of Brexit's votes, even, meant the biggest defeat in history for a government.

With the feeling that no deadline is in itself sufficient, France has asked Great Britain to firmly justify its request. "If we can not understand why Britain is asking for an extension, we will not be able to give a positive answer," said Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire of Bucharest.

The Minister of Macron has therefore reinforced the position he has indicated
The Guardian He expressed France at a diplomatic meeting of the 27 with the support of Spain and Belgium, stunned and irritated by the endless carousel delays of British legislators and the economic and financial risks that this represents for all.

The State Secretary for European Affairs, Amelie de Montchalin, also said that the European Council "made a clear decision on March 21. Another extension requires that Britain present a plan with clear and credible support ". Only then would the European Council define the necessary conditions for this extension.

"In the absence of such a plan, we should recognize that Britain has chosen to leave the EU in a haphazard manner," he concluded, citing an exit without agreement.

Other European politicians said yesterday that they wanted to give London time to reconsider the exit process, but were skeptical about the proposal to set a new deadline of this year. the end of June, while everything indicates that the stalemate will remain intact.

Germany and the Netherlands have publicly expressed their doubts after the request for postponement. "Many issues still need to be clarified in London," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. May's request "does not meet the demand" from the EU to give more details on what the British want, said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

With no outside support and no other arguments to try to convince the most recalcitrant of her conservative party, May had reached out to Corbyn this week to seek a consensus to end the blockade.

But after three days and many hours of talks, the Labor Party yesterday announced its "disappointment" and called on "the Prime Minister to propose real changes to their agreement," leaving the initiative suspicious. water.

The sinuous roads of divorce

After May's plea and Macron's expressed fatigue, an open end is emerging for the immediate future of the British

The letter

• British Prime Minister Theresa May has sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk asking for another postponement of the EU's departure date until June 30th. This would be the second postponement after the change of the original date from March 29 to April 12.

The answer

• With the support of Spain and Belgium, and with the growing disgust of European leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron refuses to grant a blank check and encourages quick British exit, unless London does not offer a good explanation.

L & # 39; effect

• The governments of Germany and the Netherlands have also expressed their doubts and could add their vote against the British demand at a summit that the EU will hold on the subject next week. But the options on the table include an even longer extension, up to 12 months.

AFP, AP and Reuters agencies