Paradoxically Brexit started a pro-EU movement in UK – Donald Tusk

European Council Donald Tusk said in an interview on Friday with Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza that he believes there may still be a “20-30%” chance that Britain remains in the European Union.

He said that if a 2016 referendum can reverse a decision made in 1975, it should be possible to hold a second Brexit vote.

Tusk was referring to the time Britons voted on whether they wanted to remain in what, 44 years ago, was the European Economic Community. The president stressed that it was perhaps unfair to the British people that the major consequences of their vote were not made clear until after the June 2016 ballot.

“The real debate on the consequences of Brexit started not before or during the referendum campaign, but after the vote. Today the results would probably look different,” said Tusk.

“Paradoxically it is Brexit that triggered a pro-European movement in the UK,” he added.

Tusk said he was uncertain how Britain could expect to leave the EU by the new deadline of October 31, when Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement has already been rejected by parliament three times.

Via Gazeta Wyborcza / DW