Lars Karlsson: CapacityNow

Irish Times writes that a hard decision on backstop would avoid harder choices later.

-//- A big choice now faced by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the small group of people who make the decisions for the country’s future is whether they should compromise on the backstop in order to provide the British with the cover they need to pass the withdrawal treaty in the House of Commons, and so avoid the risk of a no-deal Brexit.

There are downsides either way: weakening the backstop involves not just risk for the country but would represent a climbdown by Varadkar and his Tánaiste Simon Coveney – the men who brought you the bulletproof backstop. But not compromising means the British will not pass the withdrawal agreement and though the prospect of a no-deal Brexit receded this week (the most significant week at Westminster since December), such is the febrility of British politics that no outcome can be ruled out with certainty.

It is becoming accepted at the top of Government that some sort of a move on the backstop is sensible.

This is not just because it could secure a good outcome for everyone – Ireland, the UK and the European Union – but because it would avoid the possibility of a much more acutely unpleasant choice in the future: the choice, in a no-deal scenario, whether to have checks on goods at the Border, or between Ireland and the EU.

Once the choice to compromise on the backstop is made – not yet, but soon, I expect – this all becomes a matter of choreography and substance, or to put it in the words of one person participating in these matters, question of “the what and the when”.

“The what”, or the substance, is a question of the exact nature of the change to the backstop – a protocol or codicil to the treaty (the British preference) which puts EU promises on the temporary nature of the backstop into legal commitments that could be ultimately justiciable, or some sort of standalone declaration (the Irish suggestion) which amounts to the same thing but in softer terms.

The EU and the Irish will not undermine the backstop, but they will try to make it more palatable for the British. The British, for their part, must get some concession which changes it.

The substance of these matters is not yet resolved, but both sides know what they have to do.

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You can read the entire article here: The Irish Times: Hard decision on backstop would avoid harder choices later

Source: Irish Times

There has been a lot of talk if there could be an extension of article 50 and thus a later Brexit – if asked for by UK Government.

PM Theresa May has been clear that and her cabinet don’t want any extension. However to address concerns articulated by the House Of Commons Members in the previous Parlament Brexit debates, she has also said that if the updated deal to be voted for in a swcond meankngful vote on March 12, is not accepted – the in the following dusthe Parliament will vote for a potential short extension of maxiumum three months.

There are many reasons for why it is very difficult to prolong article 50. Especially since there is a European Parlimant election in May. EU leaders have said that they might grant a short extension but only if it is really motivated.

There have also been people saying that article 50 could be extended for 21 months. These proposals have been mentioned in Irsih newspapers at late as of today.

Now German newspaper Die Welt, has published an Internal report by German Parliament warning that #Brexit extension beyond May EU election breaks EU law. Legal action against U.K. only one possible consequence.

I think that it is difficult politically to get an extension. It will be interestong ro follow.

Source: Welt

I am a great Zlatan Ibrahimovic fan. People reading this blog know that. I grew up with Diego Maradona and for me he is the one. My forst memories of football are the World Cup final in Mexico City 1970 with Pele. I remember the final 1974 with Cruyff and Beckenbauer. I love the play of Zendine Zidane, Platini and Eric Cantona. In our time you have to be impressed by Christiano. Neymar is good but not up there yet. Mbappe is the future.

However the question must be asked, has there ever been any better football player than Lionel Messi? The answer is naturally: no. Leo Messi is the best player ever. He is not the most succesful one, that is Dieago Maradona. He is not the fatber of footbal, that is Edson Arantes do Nascimento – Pele. He is not the most tactoc player, Beckenbaur. He is not the player that has have most influence over the game, that is Johan Cruyff. He is not my favourite, you know who that is….

But. Leo Messi is the best ever.

Malmö FF is my club and we have had great players like Zlatan, our giant Bo Larsson and our present captain Markis Rosenberg that ks a hero amlng fans. I love my club.

I am also a FC Barcelona member and a Barca fan. Having seen the golden years with Xavi and Iniesta, the captain of captains – Carles Puyol, it is difficult not to like FC Barcelona. Whenever I can see a game at Camp Nou I do so. I always loved the ‘Mais que um clube’ statement. FC Barcelona is really more than a club.