The worst-case scenario of Britain leaving the European Union without a deal has been averted for the time being, but it is not obvious how this mess can be untangled. This time around, Britain must swiftly show a responsible solution.
The EU has held an extraordinary summit meeting and decided to extend the deadline by which Britain will leave the bloc until the end of October at the latest. Britain had been scheduled to depart the bloc Friday. If Britain's Parliament ratifies the draft Brexit deal reached by the British government and the EU, an earlier Brexit will be allowed.
British Prime Minister Theresa May's ruling Conservative Party has been unable to develop a consensus on the deal, and it cannot be said for certain when or if it will be ratified. May has held talks with the Labour Party, the largest opposition party, in an attempt to find a breakthrough, and she sought an extension until the end of June. However, the EU decided the prospects of making progress so quickly were slim.
European Council President Donald Tusk quite rightly demanded of Britain, "Please don't waste this time." If Britain repeatedly kicks the Brexit can down the road, its international prestige will be harmed and the number of companies leaving the country likely will accelerate.
Britain's House of Commons had been unable to garner majority support for any of the concrete Brexit proposals offered, and has ceased to function properly.
Will the government and the Labour Party both make compromises and find a plan that will be passed by Parliament? Will steps such as a change of prime minister break this deadlock? It is vital that Britain quickly shows a way forward.
Irish border a knotty problem
This turmoil started three years ago when then British Prime Minister David Cameron held a national referendum to ask the people whether they wanted Britain to stay in the EU.
Britain and the EU had forged close ties in many fields. Extremely complex interests were at stake in an issue that would be decided through a national referendum that offered a straight choice between two options -- remain or leave.
This complexity was symbolized by the problem of how to manage the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of Britain, and Ireland, which is an EU member state. Northern Ireland had previously experienced conflict over the issue of which country's sovereignty it should be under, but increased exchanges arising from free travel across the border has helped peace take root.
If Britain leaves the EU customs union, it could lead to the return of border controls such as customs checks. The knotty problem of preserving free travel while also leaving the customs union did not become a point of debate during the referendum. If this issue had been discussed in Parliament, it probably would not have slipped under the radar.
The proposed withdrawal agreement also does not clearly resolve the Irish border problem, and addresses it only with vague expressions. Consequently, hard-line Brexiteers in the Conservative Party turned against the administration.
As intraparty bickering intensifies, May has been blocked from shoring up her leadership by hinting at dissolving Parliament and calling a general election. The backdrop to this is Britain's Fixed-term Parliaments Act, which was enacted in 2011 and states that the support of two-thirds or more House of Commons members is required to dissolve Parliament.
The restrictions on the prime minister's right to dissolve Parliament could trigger political turmoil. Nations that have a parliamentary system should take heed of this situation.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12, 2019)
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