UK set to hold general election in December amid Brexit debate

British Parliament voted Tuesday to hold a general election on Dec. 12, the latest curveball in the U.K.’s tumultuous bid to leave the European Union. 

The vote overwhelmingly passed with a count of 438-20, The New York Times reports.

{mosads}In exchange for the vote, Prime Minister Boris Johnson dropped his stance on the country leaving the EU Thursday.

On Monday, the EU granted the U.K. a three-month extension to finalize a Brexit deal, the third extension the bloc has given the country this year. 

Johnson’s goal with the election is to regain a ruling majority in Parliament so that he can pass his latest Brexit deal, which was voted down last week. 

However, the vote comes as a huge risk to Johnson. If Johnson’s Conservative Party fails to gain a ruling majority in the election, Britain could find itself stuck in a vicious loop of indecisiveness. 

If the minority Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, is able to turn the tide and obtain a ruling majority, then Johnson would be ousted from 10 Downing Street and another national referendum on whether or not the country should leave the E.U. could be invoked.

For the election to be finalized, a vote must get through the House of Lords, which could delay the election.