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Elected in the European Parliament, these "ghost deputies" are waiting for Brexit

Head for Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, to discuss one of the paradoxical consequences of Brexit: the case of ghost MEPs. " Ghosts ", because they are 27 candidates who were elected in different countries in the last European elections, but who can not sit until the day the United Kingdom leaves the Union.

One of these " ghost deputies " is Miriam Lexmann and she keeps smiling. Nevertheless, she begins to be quite annoyed by the unenviable situation in which she finds herself, despite her election at the last European elections in May 2019. A situation she summarizes in a formula, the " paradox Lexmann ". Elected on a pro-European list, she has never been in favor of Brexit - which she considers does not bring anything good - but today, only this Brexit can allow her to finally win her case. to sit in the European Parliament. His case is all the more paradoxical because it was harmed by a poorly drafted Slovak electoral law and this odd mandate as a shadow MP should have gone to the candidate of another party.

After Brexit, the total number of MEPs is expected to fall, but of the 73 British seats, 27 have been reallocated to some EU countries, including Slovakia.

A bastard status

The " ghost deputies " are unpaid and this is a bit of a wobbly situation. Especially since the contradictory information concerning Brexit is daily and that things are likely to evolve. Miriam Lexmann had resigned from her previous position in an NGO in Brussels to campaign and today she finds herself in Bratislava without resources, although she is elected. In any case in theory, and his mandate, even " ghostly ", does not allow him to resume his previous position because of a potential conflict of interest.

For her, it is not tenable over time, so it follows with great attention the various statements of Boris Johnson and waiting to see if it will actually be European Parliament on October 31, the date set by the British Prime Minister .

Shy contacts

There is still no " group " of ghost deputies, but Miriam Lexmann has had the opportunity to meet with elected officials in his case, including an Estonian elected who also expects, as she says, " on the bench of substitutes ". What seems to annoy them the most about all of this, in addition to a pending personal situation, is the fact that the important decisions being taken in the European Parliament are being voted by many British MEPs hostile to the European Union. (and want to leave it), while these ghost deputies can not participate in debates or votes.

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