Thousands protest in the streets of London to demand a second referendum on Brexit

The Opponents of Brexit they are manifesting this Saturday in the streets of London for claim a second referendum, while the Prime Minister Theresa May starts working to convince MPs to vote their divorce agreement.

The leaders of the 27 countries of the European Union decided Thursday night to grant the UK two options to defer Brexit after the date originally set for March 29, and they set April 12 as a new date fatefulalmost three years after the referendum in which the British decided to leave the EU.

This decision "Stresses the importance for the House of Commons to approve the withdrawal agreement next week"Theresa May said after long hours of negotiations with the 27.

But it may be that this vote is not made "it appears that there is not enough support to represent himsaid the Conservative leader in a letter to MPs and published Friday night by the British media.

Concluded after 17 months of difficult negotiations with Brussels and aiming to launch a Brexit moderateThe agreement is far from having convinced the British deputies that they had already rejected it twice by majority, on January 15 and March 12.

A third humiliating defeat in Parliament would clearly call Theresa May's survival into question as head of the British executive.

In her letter to MPs, May presents her new agreement as "best solution"avoid an exit without agreement, scenario most feared by the economic means.

Anticipating for their part a possible rejection of the text, May 27 gave options: the agreement is approved and the United Kingdom proceeds to an orderly exit of the EU, which could benefit from a technical extension set to May 22. If the agreement is rejected for the third time, London will have until April 12 to decide whether to participate in the May European elections, which would mean that it would extend its membership to the EU. EU.

"Until April 12, everything is possible"said the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk.An agreement, a long extension, if the UK decides to revise its strategy or revoke Article 50", that is, to give up Brexit.

"Of course, we will meet again before that date, probably in the presence ofTheresa May, declared by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is open to the prospect of a new summit.

Opponents of Brexit have called a rally from midday (11:00 GMT) in central London call for a new referendum. Politicians of all stripes participate.

The Prime Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, fierce opponent of Brexit, called on anyone who refuses an exit from the EU to enjoy it "maximum of the opportunity"that Brussels has given to grant this last extension.

"We must avoid both the disaster of a" no deal "and the damage that would result from a bad deal of Prime Minister Theresa May," Sturgeon quoted the agency as saying. Press Association.

"The EU's decision to postpone things until April 12 has at least opened the window and those of us who oppose the Brexit must seize the opportunity offered ", stressed Sturgeon, favoring the convening of a second referendum on the UK's exit or not from the EU.

If she decides to re-introduce the withdrawal agreement to MPs, Theresa May will have to start convincing the House of Commons President, John Bercow, who has prevented this week from holding a new vote on the agreement. based on a very old practice. which forbids submitting the same text to members twice.

(With EFE information)