Germany passes Brexit law

LONDON (AP) — Germany’s parliament has approved legislation regulating a putative transition period following Britain’s departure from the European Union, a bill described as obsolete by an opposition lawmaker.

Lawmakers passed legislation Thursday under which Britain would essentially still be treated as an EU member during the nearly two-year transition foreseen by the withdrawal agreement that the British Parliament rejected this week.

It’s unclear whether and to what extent that deal can be salvaged.

Alexander Lambsdorff of the opposition Free Democrats said that the legislation “is completely obsolete. We are voting on a bill that will never take effect.”

But Florian Hahn, a lawmaker with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right bloc, said authorities want to continue preparing for all eventualities and it’s a signal that Germany wants to pursue the deal.

The leader of the Welsh political party Plaid Cymru has said it was “good to talk” to Prime Minister Theresa May about the Brexit deadlock.

Party leader Adam Price said Thursday after meeting with May that the discussions focused on what he called “the surest way” to break the stalemate: a so-called “people’s vote” on Brexit.

Price said that “we had a fairly lengthy discussion about that and we set out some of the criteria which could be adopted. We are available to continue those discussions.”

He also said it is “essential” that May take the no-deal option off the table.

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