EU pushes Brexit deadline back to Jan. 31

European Council President Donald Tusk announced on Monday that the European Union (EU) has extended Britain’s deadline for a new Brexit deal until Jan. 31, 2020.

The announcement came just three days ahead of an initial deadline of Oct. 31.

The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK’s request for a #Brexit flextension until 31 January 2020. The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure.

— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) October 28, 2019

Diplomats from the 27 other EU countries met in Brussels on Monday to sign off on the delay as U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government remains in a deadlock with other politicians over his country’s exit from the bloc.

This would be the third Brexit delay granted by Europe.{mosads}

Reuters noted that the move now awaits final approval from London, which means it might not be formally adopted before Wednesday.

Johnson formally applied for a Brexit extension last week after the U.K. Parliament handed him a defeat and voted to delay approval of his agreement to leave the EU.

Members of Parliament, led by an ex-member of Johnson’s Conservative Party who was expelled by the prime minister, voted to delay approval of Johnson’s Brexit plan until Parliament passes legislation to enact it.

Parliament will consider the prospect of calling a national election on Monday, according to The Associated Press. Johnson is pushing for a Dec. 12 election on the issue, but it may not garner enough support from Parliament. 

The U.K. government is strongly opposed to holding a second referendum. 

Brexit negotiations have been ongoing for months following the original national referendum that supported Brexit in June 2016.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May, Johnson’s predecessor and fellow Conservative, resigned earlier this year after her own plan for Britain to leave the EU was defeated by Parliament.