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UK
PARLIAMENT NOT VOTERS HAS FINAL SAY
Prime Minister CAMERON has
announced his resignation effective in October, a new Conservative Prime
minister is to appointed following the Conservative Party conference.
Among the contenders for the
Conservative Party leadership are former London Mayor BORIS JOHNSON and Justice
Secretary MICHAEL GOVE, both of whom were firm supporters of the BREXIT
campaign. Home Secretary THERESA MAY is also a potential contender.
The implementation of BREXIT is
in part dependent upon the new leadership of the Conservative Party. There are
divisions in both Conservative and opposition parties with regard to BREXIT.
At
this stage, there is, however, no assurance that the Brexit proposal will be
ratified by Parliament.
Moreover, CAMERON’S decision to
resign in October contributes to delaying the process.
EXAGGERATED
TURMOIL REGARDING BREXIT
All the fuss and bother about BREXIT
largely ignores its non-binding status – parliament, not voters deciding if BRITAIN
stays or leaves the EU, the latter extremely unlikely.
Writing in the Financial Times, BRITISH
lawyer DAVID ALLEN GREEN explained BREXIT voting is “advisory,” not
“mandatory.” Parliament has final say.
MPs can legally disregard the
public’s will either way, they alone empowered to decide the path BRITAIN chooses.
What happens ahead is “a matter
of politics not law. It will come down to what is politically expedient and
practicable,” said GREEN.
Various options exist, including
supporting Thursday’s outcome, ignoring it, or “re-negotiating another deal and
put (ting) that to another referendum” – repeating the process “until voters
eventually vote the ‘right’ way,” what’s best for monied interests, not them.
Invoking Article 50 of the LISBON
Treaty is another matter entirely, legally binding, unlike Thursday’s vote. It
states as follows:
“1. Any Member State may decide
to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional
requirements.
2. A Member State which decides
to withdraw shall notify the EUROPEAN Council of its intention. In the light of
the guidelines provided by the EUROPEAN Council, the Union shall negotiate and
conclude an agreement with that State, setting out the arrangements for its
withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with
the Union.
That agreement shall be
negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning
of the EUROPEAN UNION. It shall be concluded on behalf of the Union by the
Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the EUROPEAN
Parliament.
3. The Treaties shall cease to
apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the
withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred
to in paragraph 2, unless the EUROPEAN Council, in agreement with the Member
State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.
4. For the purposes of paragraphs
2 and 3, the member of the EUROPEAN Council or of the Council representing the
withdrawing Member State shall not participate in the discussions of the EUROPEAN
Council or Council or in decisions concerning it.
A qualified majority shall be
defined in accordance with Article 238(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning
of the EUROPEAN UNION.
5. If a State which has withdrawn
from the Union asks to rejoin, its request shall be subject to the procedure
referred to in Article 49.”
POLITICS
ALONE WILL DRIVE WHAT HAPPENS AHEAD, NOT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
GREEN highlighted key points.
Member states can choose how to vote on withdrawal – by referendum, parliament
or other means.
The withdrawal process begins
with formal notification. Once “given, the member state and the EU are stuck
with it.”
Member states wishing to withdraw
have up to two years maximum to complete the process “unless this period is
extended by unanimous agreement.”
Once withdrawal intentions are
announced and initiated, there’s no going back. At the same time, what’s “created
by international agreement can be undone” the same way.
BRUSSELS could “come up with some
muddling fudge which holds off the two year deadline,” or a new treaty
amendment could be adopted.
Politics alone will drive what
happens ahead, not the will of the people. BRITAIN is no more democratic than AMERICA
– nor are any other EU countries.
Special interests decide things.
Whatever they want they get. However voting turns out, government policy “is to
remain in the EU,” said GREEN.
Leaving would require Prime
Minister DAVID CAMERON invoking Article 50, unlikely given his vocal opposition
to BREXIT.
By Stephen Lendman via Global Research
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