Macron puts the squeeze on the EU
- Those who didn't take Boris Johnson seriously were wrong
This is a big statement. Macron -- and every one of the other EU27 members -- have the ability to block a Brexit extension. It's probably a bluff but it's stronger than yesterday's bluff from Juncker.
Looking deeper into the comment, he said he doesn't think an extension should be granted, which is not quite the same thing. But I haven't seen the verbatim.
Update: Here is the verbatim (and it's hardly unequivocal):
"I'm not going to predict the future but I don't think we should grant a any further delay"
Another translation:
"I hope we can stick to the timeline we gave ourselves and that the date of Oct. 31 is respected," Macron told a news conference.
"I am not making political waves, I don't want to get involved in whether the British parliament votes for this or that, but I do not think that another delay should be granted. We should end these negotiations and move on to talks on our future relations and get them done."
I'm also reminded that he said the same thing around May's vote and granted the extension anyway. March 21, 2019:
"In case of a no vote (in Parliament) ... it will guide everybody to a no deal for sure," Macron said, speaking in English. "This is it."
However even if this is a bluff, it could give some cover to MPs to take the deal.
