Johnson resigns from EU to 'more champagne'?

EU spokesman: Consumption of alcoholic beverages is very limited

　　[Global Times Special Correspondent Sun Wei in the UK Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Miao] "Johnson's Prime Minister's career: he came to power because of anti-tradition, and left in the scandal and chaos", the US "New York Times" commented on the British Prime Minister on the 8th. Johnson resigned in resignation.

But apparently, Johnson's departure did not end the chaos in British politics, but set off another battle.

According to British media reports, the factional struggle within the Conservative Party can be described as a turbulent undercurrent, and who can take over this mess is the most concerned issue of public opinion.

For EU countries, they want to turn a new page with the UK.

　　After Johnson announced his resignation, leaders of the United States and the European Union, who have close ties to the United Kingdom, quickly cut politically with him, and showed unusual indifference, even hilarity.

Reuters said on the 8th that US President Biden issued a statement on Johnson's resignation on Thursday, the full text was only 88 words.

There was no mention of Johnson himself in the statement, only a few official lines of "look forward to further close cooperation with the British government".

Biden was clearly distancing himself from Johnson's personal ties, but instead highlighted the United States and Britain as "the closest allies" and called the relationship between the two peoples "strong and enduring."

Reuters commented that the bilateral trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States was once used by Johnson as a rich reward for the United Kingdom's "Brexit", but it is indeed a dead end under the leadership of Biden, who is committed to strengthening multilateral mechanisms.

　　The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on the 8th the ambivalence of the EU and its leaders over Johnson's resignation under the headline "Is the EU happy about Johnson's downfall? Yes, but neither".

When asked by reporters if he would order more bottles of champagne after learning of Johnson's resignation, the EU spokesman responded coldly, "The consumption of alcoholic beverages in the EU is very limited."

The claim alludes to Johnson's recent admission of an "alcohol problem" in British politics, who has been accused of tolerating and attending drinking parties in Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown, one of many scandals that have led to his political ouster .

　　The BBC commented that after Johnson announced his resignation, there were sneers everywhere in the European media, showing that he was not popular in the EU.

Europe has expressed disgust at Johnson's insistence on "Brexit" and the way he negotiates with the EU after "Brexit".

German Foreign Minister Bell Burke unabashedly criticized Johnson, saying, "London unilaterally violated the (Brexit) agreement, and for its own foreseeable motives, which the EU cannot accept." Bye bye, Boris (Johnson's name)" to report, and borrowed the word "Brexit" supported by Johnson to call his resignation "break away from Boris (Borexit)."

The Danish "Extraordinary" ridiculed Johnson's oath of victory to "take Brexit to the end", saying that "he is now done".

Irish Prime Minister Martin bluntly said that Johnson's deterioration of the relationship between Ireland and the UK has become "tense and challenging", and Johnson's departure may be an opportunity to "reset" the relationship between the two countries.

　　Agence France-Presse said that the EU and the United Kingdom have tense relations over the negotiation of Brexit, and the EU hopes that Johnson's resignation will be an opportunity for the two sides to restart dialogue on the issue of Northern Ireland.

Michel Barnier, the EU's former chief Brexit negotiator, said on Thursday that Johnson's resignation opened a new chapter in EU-UK relations.

The BBC quoted a senior political figure as summing up the schadenfreude and ambivalence about future fears that Johnson's resignation sparked within EU countries: "I have one hand in my popcorn bag; the other on my nervous chest. ."

　　On Friday, the leaders of both sides of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine expressed contrasting attitudes towards Johnson's resignation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Johnson on Thursday and was "sad" about his departure, the Ukrainian presidential palace said in a statement on Thursday, Agence France-Presse reported.

Zelensky called Johnson "one of the most determined Western politicians" to support Ukraine, adding that Ukraine had "sympathy" for Johnson and that "there is no doubt that the British government will continue to support Ukraine." Key's phone talks with Johnson also focused on military and political cooperation between the two countries and the lifting of a blockade on Ukrainian ports for grain exports.

　　Reuters reported that Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian presidential press secretary, told reporters bluntly, "Johnson doesn't like us, and we don't like him either." Peskov said that Russia does not care about Johnson's whereabouts.

At the same time, he hopes that a more professional person who can make decisions through dialogue will take over power in the UK in the future, but "there is little hope".

　　Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on the 8th, "We have seen reports that Prime Minister Johnson announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party. This is an internal British affair. No matter how British politics changes, we hope that the British side will take a long-term view. and the overall situation, meet China halfway, and promote the sustainable and stable development of bilateral relations."

　　The British "Guardian" commented on Johnson's resignation on the 7th as "going, but not leaving", pointing out that although he resigned, he will remain in power in the next few months.

The article said that Johnson's sudden resignation has sparked divisions among the contenders for Downing Street, with some MPs asking Johnson to leave the prime minister position now, without waiting for the Conservative Party election.

However, Johnson told the newly formed interim cabinet that it will not announce major decisions, tax decisions or other directional changes until power is handed over to the new prime minister.