This deal has been in the works for years. Fellay wants a deal, the superiors want it - no one's been hiding this fact; they have just been waiting, arguing and selling this whole deal as a "positive" thing, so the most people would accept it. Fellay was always going to push this though, it has just been a matter of time.
And if this deal closes on Dec 8, (which is likely, so that the society can then exclaim, "Oh, my! What a wonderous grace we've been given by God!") what a slap in the face to Our Lady!