Frexit? Italeave? After watching Brexit, other European countries say no thanks.
Source: Washington Post
Frexit? Italeave? After watching Brexit, other European countries say no thanks.
By Chico Harlan March 29 at 2:40 PM
ROME Just three years ago, in country after European country, populist politicians were drawing up plans to follow Britain out the door. The French nationalist party leader spoke of a Frexit. The far-right Dutch leader wanted a vote on Nexit. Some politicians predicted a secessionist contagion. Might there be a Swexit? A Czech-out? An Italeave?
Now its our turn, the leader of Italys ascendant far right, Matteo Salvini, said at the time about exiting the European Union.
But the 2016 Brexit vote has spawned no copycats. Nor did it lead to the crackup of the E.U. Even the most ardent Brussels-bashing politicians have concluded it is better to stick with the bloc than endure a messy, years-long divorce.
On Friday, the day Britain was supposed to leave the E.U. and take back control, the British Parliament was still fighting over how and whether to leave. Lawmakers rejected, for the third time, the withdrawal deal negotiated between Prime Minister Theresa May and E.U. leaders. The pound fell on fears that Britain will abruptly crash out of the bloc on April 12, with massive disruptions to trade and travel.
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Watching all this, the continents influential Euroskeptic parties from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean have recast their message. They have dropped calls to leave the E.U. and are instead advocating for the less drastic approach of changing the bloc from within. The European political scene has scarcely a party remaining advocating for a Brexit-style departure.
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