In her autobiography, Freedom, due to be published tomorrow, the former German chancellor says she was dismayed by the notion that she might have done more to help the then British prime minister, David Cameron, who was keen for the UK to stay in the EU, but that ultimately he only had himself to blame.
In extracts from the book, Merkel, who left office three years ago, said looking back she recognised that Brexit had been on the cards once Cameron proposed in 2005 that Conservative party MEPs should leave the European People's party, which they subsequently did, over the EU parliamentary alliance's backing of the Lisbon treaty in 2009.
The treaty introduced significant changes to the EU that Eurosceptic critics considered undemocratic.
This story is from the November 25, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 25, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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