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Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, reacted to Tuesday’s decision in an article for El País. He said he profoundly regretted the rejection, which would serve only to “prolong the uncertainty just over two weeks” before Brexit was due to happen. He wrote:

[British] MPs neither ratified the withdrawal agreement, nor managed to reach a basic consensus on the real, existing possibilities: a no-deal exit or staying in the European Union.

But he said Spain was well prepared for any eventuality and wished to reassure both Spaniard and Britons.