Why initiating Brexit by invoking the Lisbon Treaty's Article 50 could go into 2017, or even past 2020 into new general elections- (1) the pro stay vote in Ireland and Scotland

08/16/2016

Theresa May, Britain's prime minister, is deeply committed to the idea of the union of England with Scotland and Ireland. Invoking Article 50 of Lisbon Treaty, a step necessary for Brexit, would also lead to Scotland's ruling Scottish National Party to initiate plans for a second referendum for Scottish independence, as Scotland votd to remain in the European Union. The issue of Ireland and Northern Ireland's vote to remain in the EU would also lead to serious repercussions. In short it will be hard to separate the leave vote in England from the stay vote in Scotland and Ireland, as it will be difficult for most British people to imagine a England without a British identity. If the referendum had asked the second question "Do you still vote leave if this means the end of Britain or the United Kingdom?" the vote could have turned out differently for nationalist voters.

Linked Articles

Wait and see: Theresa May is in no hurry on Brexit | Europe | DW.COM | 15.08.2016

DW.COM 08/15/2016

Bernd Riegert / Db

DW.COM 07/25/2016

The new multiyear program proposed by Germany and France to replace the June 2 proposal, following the Greece July 5, 2015 referendum, which sets more reforms

07/07/2015

Linked Articles

Merkel’s German Critics Say Greek Bailout Was Doomed From Start

Wall Street Journal 07/08/2015

Anton Troianovski, Anton, Troianovski

Wall Street Journal 07/07/2015

Gabriele Steinhauser, Gabriele, Steinhauser

What Greece won in the negotiations and what Greece lost in the failure of talks with the EU, capital controls, closing of banks and the referendum on July 5, 2015

02/27/2015

Major concessions were won by Greece on the most important issues of the surplus, and the size of the public sector with high unemployment. Compromise was being reached on the value added taxes and age for getting pensions, next down the list. Next on the list were pension cuts which undoubtedly would hurt pensioners but in the larger picture of the economy would come after the size of the surplus and dateline, and the size of public sector. The size of these cuts is small compared to the cost of 60 billion euros from the damage done to the economy, and the alternatives for pensioners and the rest of the country. under bank closure. For the EU this was seen as part of pension reforms and for left leaning Syriza compromising on behalf of pensioners.

Linked Articles

IMF Raises Referendum Stakes With Call for More Aid for Greece and Debt Relief

Wall Street Journal 07/03/2015

Viktoria Dendrinou, Viktoria, Dendrinou, Nektaria Stamouli And Ian Talley, Nektaria, Stamouli, And, Ian, Talley

New York Times 02/27/2015

Paul Krugman, Paul, Krugman

Britain, the eurozone crisis and a mood shifting towards Britain's exit from the European Union

12/07/2011

A British mood moving away from the positive engagement its economy needs with its largest trading partner, the other nations of the European Union. A Opinion/Observer poll in Nov. 2012 shows a majority of people in Britain would vote yes on a referendum to leave the European Union.

Linked Articles

Britain's Place in Europe

New York Times 11/22/2012

Editorial

New York Times 12/07/2011

Sarah Lyall, Sarah, Lyall, Stephen Castle, Stephen, Castle

Greece's referendum and the 3 year bailout of July 12, 2015- military spending, shipowners taxes, and cuts to pensions

07/10/2010

Greece's left Syriza government almost pulled the country out of the eurozone over pension cuts, even as military spending in Greece remained at 2.4% of GNP compared to close 1.4% for the EU average. Greece did not propose further cuts to military spending to bring the Greece ratio closer to that of Germany and other countries in Europe, raising questions about prudent spending. Which is why Greece sometimes has aspects of the surreal to people not just in Germany and Holland, but other parts of Europe, and outsiders. Under the reform proposal and bailout of July 12, 2015 following the "no" referendum, Greece's parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the similiar cuts in pensions from an earlier EU proposal, with cuts of $300 million to the military spending by 2016. Greek shipowners will also pay taxes under the new bailout, negotiated by Greece with France's help when the referendum had damaged relations with the rest of the EU, particularly Germany with only 10% in polls willing to support any further concessions.

Linked Articles

The Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal 07/11/2015

Naftali Bendavid, Naftali, Bendavid

Wall Street Journal 07/10/2010

Christopher Rhoads, Christopher, Rhoads