- Title: Macron says: I want to believe Johnson will get majority for deal
- Date: 17th October 2019
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 17, 2019) (AGENCY POOL) MACRON ARRIVING FOR MEETING WITH FINNISH PRIME MINISTER, ANTTI RINNE, SHAKING HIS HAND, SITTING DOWN MACRON DURING MEETING RINNE DURING MEETING MACRON AND RINNE
- Embargoed: 31st October 2019 14:23
- Keywords: Macron reaction Brexit deal European Council EU summit
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002B1HL5JB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to believe a Brexit deal reached by negotiators on Thursday (October 17) would be backed by the British parliament but expressed caution as fellow leaders feted the last-minute agreement.
The deal was announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, who said it now meant an extension past the current October 31 deadline was not necessary.
Macron reiterated the French position that it was important to sign off on a deal before the new Commission takes over in November.
"In my view the conclusion of this agreement, with all the caveats, is good news because it allows us to begin a new phase in the European discussions," Macron told reporters as he arrived at the summit.
Johnson must now secure approval for the agreement in an extraordinary session of parliament on Saturday, which would pave the way for an orderly departure on October 31. But getting the votes is uncertain.
(Production: Johnny Cotton) - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
