Less than 3 months until Brexit and everything, both internally and externally, still seems to be on the high seas.
JUNCKER-JOHNSON PHONE CALL
In the late afternoon of today, August 27, there will be yet another attempt to unblock a months-long stalemate and avoid the worst case scenario, but now increasingly probable, that of a no-deal exit. Indeed, in a few hours, the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will talk on the phone in order to enter into a "constructive dialogue" on Brexit. This was announced by EU spokeswoman Mina Andreeva, underlining that "it is the second time that the two leaders have had the opportunity to speak to each other".
"We are ready to enter into a constructive dialogue with the UK on any concrete proposal that is compatible with the withdrawal agreement. It is in this constructive and committed spirit that this afternoon's phone call will take place,” he added. Andreeva also confirmed that tomorrow the British sherpa, David Frost, will be in Brussels for meetings with the Brexit Task Force.
THE NEWS OF THE G7
In words, therefore, the will to find a solution that avoids the No deal seems to exist on both sides. In fact everything is still on the high seas. During the G7 meeting in Biarritz, France, tension rose again following the words pronounced by the British Prime Minister: "Let's be clear, I think that at the moment there is a reasonable chance that we will have an agreement", declared Johnson, saying he was "optimistic", but, he continued, "if we go out without an agreement, it is certainly true that the 39 billion pounds (the UK would have to pay the EU for the spill, ed.) are no longer, strictly speaking, due. There will be very substantial sums available for our country to spend on our priorities. It's not a threat. It's a simple fact."
Officially Brussels did not comment on the statement, but an EU source responded by stating that if London decides not to honor the terms of the divorce agreement signed by Theresa May any attempt at a trade deal between the country and the European Union will be blocked.
NEWS FROM LONDON
Heavy air also in London where according to an indiscretion published by the weekly The Observer, Johnson allegedly asked Attorney General Geoffrey Cox for a legal opinion on the possibility of closing the British Parliament for 5 weeks, from 9 September to 14 October. A move that would have a dual purpose: on the one hand to prevent MPs from voting on a possible motion of no confidence in the prime minister, on the other to ensure that they cannot oppose the possible no deal with new laws and motions.
However, the decision could be annulled by a Court, following an application presented by citizens and parliamentarians.
In the meantime, the work of the opposition continues. Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn met today with the leaders of the other opposition parties in order to develop a common strategy against the possibility of a no-deal exit. During the meeting, the number one of the Labor Party supported the need to carry forward a shared plan that allows the opposition to use all the legal tools necessary to avert the hard Brexit hypothesis. In parallel Corbyn reassured that, for the moment, his party he will not file a no-confidence motion against Johnson leaving him time to work on an agreement with the Union.
We recall that last week Corbyn announced his intention to seek the Prime Minister's no-confidence in order to establish an interim Labor government that would ask the EU for a new extension of the Brexit deadline and propose a new referendum and early elections.
