Brexit: New deadline, new problems

Third extension

Thus, European Council President Donald Tusk spoke out earlier this week to confirm that European Union (EU) leaders have agreed to the UK's request for a "flexible extension" of Brexit until the end of January 2020. This move also gives the foggy country the option to leave the EU earlier, on December 1 or January 1, 2020, if the British Parliament can ratify the new Brexit deal.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (second from left) and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (second from right) in Brussels on October 17. Photo: EPA

Although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has affirmed that he will take Britain out of the EU on October 31 at all costs, up to now, the foggy country has accepted the request to delay the "divorce" with the EU. Johnson is forced to follow the law, that he is forced to ask the EU to delay, even against his personal wishes, and at the same time, if faced with the proposal to extend until the end of January next year, he must also nod in agreement.

With this development, Brexit is about to be postponed for the third time since the British people voted to “leave”, and this is disappointing news for many people. The EU wants to avoid being “named” for a no-deal Brexit, which is costly and accompanied by disruption to trade and the economy, so it is not surprising that they agree to a delay.

Brexit rules that Britain needs to implement before leaving the EU were pushed through last week, despite British lawmakers rejecting a timeframe that Mr Johnson had pushed forward by three days.

The British Prime Minister proposed holding an early election in early December, but the British Parliament rejected the effort on October 28. 299 MPs voted in favor of holding the election, while 70 opposed, and many MPs abstained, meaning they did not reach the required two-thirds majority.

Pro-Brexit protest on October 28. Photo: AFP

Will you hold a general election?

Immediately after the results were announced, Johnson announced that his government would introduce a short bill calling for an election on December 12. It is clear that the leader is looking to use the extra time to try to hold a general election, which he argues would break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit, as well as give him the opportunity to regain a majority in Parliament so that he can carry out Johnson's "version" of Brexit.

The bill would require a simple majority, rather than the two-thirds required by law, and would effectively override current electoral law. The question is whether Parliament can “reconcile” with Mr Johnson’s plan. Mr Johnson has twice tried to call an election, but opposition parties have resisted. Some say they simply want to wait until Mr Johnson is forced to ask for an extension, betraying his own promise that he would rather die than ask for a delay.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (front) speaks at a session of the House of Commons in London, Britain on October 22, 2019. Photo: THX/TTXVN

But now, even with a delay certain, Johnson's plans for a December election are in doubt.

The main opposition Labour Party has said the election is risky, as Mr Johnson’s party remains more popular, and so far there has been no sign that Johnson’s broken Brexit promises will backfire on him.

The election pressure is clearly on Labour. They got the Brexit extension they wanted. They are a minority, and not a majority in Parliament. That’s not to mention other opposition parties that are now looking forward to an election, including the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats in particular have gained support for their anti-Brexit stance, and they want an election now so they can have a platform to prevent a UK-EU divorce.

Brexit has been delayed for a third time. Photo: Getty

With a similar view, CNN analyzed that the British Prime Minister's approach faces two problems: Johnson does not have a majority in the House of Commons, as he fired 21 MPs after they voted against him in early September, while others have resigned. Another problem is that, like any other regulation in Parliament, the bill can be amended, Johnson may face the risk of the opposition joining forces with opponents in the Conservative Party to change the bill in a way that could hurt him.

For now, a “flexible extension” to Brexit seems like a foregone conclusion. But in the coming months, it will be up to the British Parliament to decide, and the public will be watching closely to see whether MPs will use this opportunity to actually debate and pass Brexit, or focus on what promises to be a tense election campaign centered on Brexit.