The press conference that answered nothing
Forty minutes, eleven questions and a phrase repeated so often the room started counting.
It was billed as a clarification. It functioned, in practice, as a masterclass in saying a great deal without committing to anything.
Reporters arrived with three specific questions about timelines. They left with a commitment to "a process," undefined.
What the wording actually means
Officials familiar with the file say the vagueness is deliberate and legally advised, which is a different thing from being dishonest.
The practical effect is a delay of at least one quarter, and possibly two, depending on how a single clause is interpreted.
The next briefing has been scheduled, pointedly, for a Friday afternoon.
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