The British Parliament has postponed a decision on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. MEPs voted 322 to 306 for a motion to postpone the decision until the ratification law has been passed.
Johnson is thus required by law to apply to the European Union for an extension of the Brexit deadline beyond October 31st.
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However, Johnson announced that he would not negotiate a postponement with the EU. He would continue to campaign for a punctual withdrawal on 31 October, the PM said. For this purpose, he will introduce the law ratifying the agreement next week.
On Tuesday, another important vote could be pending with the second reading of the law. If the law passes this hurdle, Johnson could still get the support for the deal.
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Protests in London: "No Brexit is a Deal"The reason for the postponement was the concern that the Brexit agreement could no longer be ratified in time for withdrawal. The consequence would be an unregulated exit from the EU. In order to prevent a no-deal-Brexit, the deputies would have to wave through everything the government puts before them in the ratification law. Above all, however, the so-called Letwin amendment - introduced by Tory MP Oliver Letwin - provided a basis for the broadest possible coalition against the government, because the deal was not openly rejected.
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An application for postponement would most likely be granted to the remaining 27 EU countries if there was a clear justification. How long the EU could delay is unclear. An adequate justification for an extension of the deadline in Brussels is the announcement of new elections or a referendum.
Johnson had reached an agreement with Brussels this week against all expectations. But the allied with the government Northern Irish Protestant DUP did not want to support the new regulation. Johnson missed important votes. In any case, he had to hope for support from the opposition, because a majority does not have the prime minister. Johnson's predecessor Theresa May failed with her Brexit agreement three times in parliament.
Speech by Theresa May in the lower house: "I have a déjà-vu"
AFP
Over three years ago, in summer 2016, the British voted in favor of leaving the EU by a narrow majority in a referendum.