Ahead of #Johnson's meeting with #Merkel today, there was a lot of curiosity (but no optimism) in Berlin on whether he would have any idea up his sleeve that would solve the #Brexit deadlock. The letter Johnson sent Monday rejecting the backstop suggests he doesn't. 1/3
Without any concrete propoal and the #Brexit Party in his back that seems determined to kill any deal, he is hardly a credible negotiation partner for continental Europeans anyway. That makes another extension of the Brexit date on Oct 31 unlikely. 2/3
Although Berlin sees huge economic & political risks of a no-deal Brexit for both sides & seeks a close partnership post-Brexit, it won't blink on the backstop. The ball remains in Johnson's field - while he sets up his arguments to scapegoat the #EU in case of hard #Brexit.
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