Theresa May eyes short Brexit extension as deadline nears

[nitpicker]

https://www.dw.com/en/theresa-may-eyes-short-brexit-extension-as-deadline-nears/a-47985313

Theresa May eyes short Brexit extension as deadline nears

Date 20.03.2019

UK Prime Minister Theresa May will request a short delay to Brexit in a letter to European Union leaders on Wednesday, media reported.

Britain is scheduled to leave the bloc on March 29 — three years after UK citizens voted for the withdrawal in a referendum.

British MPs have twice rejected May's painstakingly negotiated withdrawal agreement with Brussels, and with the divorce deadline a little over a week away, the prime minister's options are limited.

May "won't be asking for a long extension," Reuters news agency quoted a Downing Street source as saying. "There is a case for giving Parliament a bit more time to agree on a way forward.

"But the people of this country have been waiting nearly three years now," the source added. "They are fed up with parliament's failure to take a decision and the PM shares their frustration."
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In the leadup to a crucial summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, EU officials have voiced frustration over the political deadlock in Britain and urged London to swiftly set out what it wants to do.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told Germany's Deutschlandfunk public radio on Wednesday that the leaders' meeting was unlikely to end with an agreement about postponing Brexit, which would require unanimous backing by EU leaders.

"We will probably have to meet again next week because Mrs. May doesn't have agreement to anything, either in her Cabinet or in Parliament," he said. "She must bring approval of the negotiated deal and she must bring clear ideas on timing."
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