The European Union on Monday agreed to third extension for Britain this year to allow lawmakers there more time to negotiate its divorce from the E.U.
Britain was originally scheduled to leave the E.U. on Thursday, Oct. 31, something British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had repeatedly made a central promise during his time in office, once telling reporters he'd rather "die in a ditch" than see another extension granted.
However, Johnson was forced by lawmakers in Parliament to delay the exit a third time this year, nearly three years after the British public voted for Brexit in 2016. Britain has now extended its time in the E.U. four times now.
The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, confirmed the request had been granted in a tweet Monday. Tusk said the EU had approved a "flextension," which means if Britain's parliament ratifies the deal negotiated by Johnson ahead of the new Jan. 31 deadline, they could withdraw from the economic bloc early.
Lawmakers in Parliament are also expected to vote on whether to go ahead on Johnson's call for an early election, which the Prime Minister hopes can be used to break an impasse between lawmakers in Parliament. Two-thirds of Britain's lawmakers need to vote in favor of a motion to hold an early election, which will make it difficult for Johnson to achieve his goal as his party does not hold a majority in the House of Commons.
Johnson has lost two votes over his attempts to call an early election, which has become symbolic of the Brexit vote.
Lawmakers in Britain say they want more time to read and understand the withdrawal deal Johnson negotiated with the E.U. and that they do not want to leave the door open to any kind of 'No-deal' Brexit, which could cause chaos for Britain's economy and could even trigger food shortages and civil unrest.
If Parliament refuses to approve the deal negotiated by Johnson and his team, Brexit will remain an issue. Brexit has become complicated for lawmakers because they cannot agree on which rules to keep and which ones they want to get rid of.
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