PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, 20 March 2017
Commenting on the decision by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May to trigger article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on March 29 , European Green Party Co-chairs Reinhard Bütikofer and Monica Frassoni said:
"It was a politically toxic mix of resentment, nostalgia, and open lies that produced a leave majority in the Brexit referendum. But in stitching together its strategy for leaving the EU, the British government has not only ignored the 48 per cent who wanted to stay and the overwhelming majorities against Brexit in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar. It has also made fools of many Brexit supporters who would never have voted for the radical break with the EU that Mrs May is now advocating.
"Mrs May is pursuing a de facto coup against the majority of British citizens. Unfortunately, outside of Scotland there is no real opposition against the farce she is making of democracy, because Labour is happy not to play a role in this historic hour.
"Greens would prefer if the United Kingdom stayed in the EU. In case of Brexit, Greens would hope that the United Kingdom could stay united by allowing Scotland in particular to remain a fully integrated member of the European family of nations while England leaves the EU.
"It is in the hands of Mrs May and to a lesser degree of Mr Corbyn to foil both these hopes. It is in our hands as citizens of the EU27 to see to it that our European Union will not also fall victim to the gigantic folly of Brexit."
- ENDS -
Eliana Capretti
Head of Communications and Press
