The European Union should not be held responsible for resolving the internal political crisis in the United Kingdom amid the country’s withdrawal from the bloc, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday.
“It is necessary for the British to take courage and not to bring their difficult internal situation to the European Union. It is not the European Union who should resolve the UK political crisis,” the minister said on the BFMTV broadcaster.
Brexit was originally scheduled for March 29, but talk of the United Kingdom getting an extension began to intensify as the date drew closer. On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May asked the European Union to delay the deadline until June 30 but refused to follow recommendations to amend the agreement, which has already been rejected twice by parliament. On Tuesday, May promised she would submit a document to parliament in the coming days that would be put to a vote next week. She has continued to consult with political parties about the Brexit deal, but all of them have noted the lack of any progress. Labour lawmakers have refused to participate in the consultations altogether.