European leaders granted British Prime Minister Theresa May a short extension on Britain’s departure from the European Union.
May now has until April 12 to negotiate a Brexit deal with Parliament, according to reports. The exit date will be postponed to May 22 if she can convince British lawmakers next week to back her plan, but lawmakers have already rejected May’s plans to leave the European Union twice.
If she cannot persuade Parliament to support her plan, May will be stuck with the April deadline. If Britain is granted the longer deadline, it would participate in European Parliament elections in May.
Britain was set to leave the bloc on March 29.
May has been adamant that she can get enough backing to push her deal through in a third vote, but European leaders have been skeptical.
Her proposal gives Britain authority over immigration from Europe but binds the country to the European Union’s customs and trade system through the end of 2020.
Chaos is expected if Britain leaves the European Union without a Brexit deal. A no-deal Brexit has been opposed by Parliament.
