UK Parliament to Vote Again on Brexit This Friday

Members of the UK Parliament will vote again on the government's Brexit plan on Friday, April 9. This plan has previously failed twice in Parliament. Last week, the European Union agreed to postpone Brexit for three months due to a deadlock in negotiations between the UK government and Parliament. According to this agreement, the UK will separate from the EU on May 22 based on Theresa May's plan. Otherwise, the UK has until April 12 to present a new proposal. Andrea Leadsom, Speaker of the House of Commons, stated that the EU only agreed to delay Brexit until March 22 if the government's agreement is approved. Leadsom emphasized that the vote tomorrow gives Parliament the opportunity to finalize the exit from the EU. Nearly three years after the referendum, the manner of the UK's exit from the EU remains unclear. After the 2016 referendum, the UK submitted its request to leave the EU in 2017, which according to law should have been finalized by March 29, two years later. Meanwhile, EU officials and diplomats indicated that due to the lack of agreement in Parliament on a single option and the Prime Minister's inability to get the Brexit deal approved, the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit is higher than ever. The EU will prepare for such a scenario next week, and an emergency summit of EU leaders regarding Brexit is expected to be held a week later (likely on April 10). A senior EU diplomat noted that awareness of the increasing likelihood of a no-deal Brexit has risen. Representatives from the other 27 EU member states discussed the two possible options of a no-deal Brexit or delaying the UK's exit from the EU. Another EU diplomat mentioned that an emergency summit of EU leaders regarding Brexit will likely be held, focusing on either a no-deal Brexit or agreeing to extend the UK's exit deadline. Given the current deadlock in UK politics, the EU agreed last week to postpone the UK's exit date to May 22 if the Prime Minister's acceptable plan is approved in Parliament. However, UK Parliament members have so far rejected this plan by a significant majority. EU officials have indicated that if the Prime Minister can get her plan approved in Parliament within the remaining time, there may be room for further negotiation. However, if this plan fails again in Parliament, the UK will only have until April 12 to announce its final decision on advancing Brexit. Reuters adds that even if the UK does not announce its definitive decision by April 12, it is unlikely to leave the EU abruptly and suddenly, as the EU will likely grant more time for the preparations for the UK's exit. The French government, however, emphasizes the need to resolve the Brexit situation as quickly as possible. The EU has announced a series of measures to mitigate the consequences of the chaos resulting from Brexit, but two important issues remain unresolved: the visa situation for British citizens traveling to EU member states and the UK's financial contribution to the EU budget for 2019. If Brexit is delayed for a long time, the EU will ask the UK to participate in the European Parliament elections scheduled for May 23-26. EU officials also considered the possibility of the Prime Minister's plan being approved in Parliament during the third vote, as well as the possibility of withdrawing the request to leave the EU (cancelling Brexit), which currently seems unlikely. Following the failure of the Brexit session in the UK Parliament, the value of the pound has decreased again.