EU citizenship applied for: Boris Johnson's father wants to become French

Thursday December 31, 2020

Applied for EU citizenship
Boris Johnson's father wants to become French

Boris Johnson was the driving force behind the Brexit campaign during the referendum. Shortly before the exit agreement he had negotiated comes into force, his own father causes a sensation with a pro-European stunt.

Stanley Johnson, the father of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, claims to be in the process of applying for French citizenship. Stanley Johnson told the French radio station RTL on the eve of Britain's exit from the EU, which his son was promoting: "I will always be a European, that's for sure". The British people cannot be told that they are not European. "Having a connection with the European Union is important."

In the interview, which the British tabloid Daily Mail described as "embarrassing" for the Prime Minister, Johnson Senior stated, "If I understand correctly, I am French." His mother was born in France, her mother and grandfather were French. "So I'm just getting something back that I already have," said Johnson about his French naturalization application. "And that makes me very happy."

In contrast to his son, the 80-year-old Stanley Johnson is considered an avowed pro-European. He sat for the conservative party as a member of the European Parliament and worked for the EU Commission. In the 2016 referendum, he said he voted for Great Britain to remain in the EU.

Great Britain will finalize Brexit on Thursday at midnight Central European Time. Then, after an eleven-month transition phase since leaving the EU, membership in the EU internal market and the customs union will also end. The economic separation from the European Union will take place at the New Year.

"The fate of this great country is now firmly in our hands," said Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "On December 31st at 11 p.m. local time, a new beginning in our country's history and a new relationship with the EU as its closest ally will begin. That moment has finally come and now is the time to seize it," said Johnson. Previously, the British Parliament had waved through the ratification law proposed by Johnson in one day. With the approval of the head of state Queen Elizabeth II, the "Royal Assent", the law came into force shortly afterwards.