Britain’s Theresa May on Tuesday called for snap elections on June 8, catching the country by surprise in a bid to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the European Union.

“We need a general election and we need one now, because we have at this moment a one-off chance to get this done while the European Union agrees its negotiating position and before the detailed talks begin,” the prime minister said outside her Downing Street office.

The pound, which has fallen because of the Brexit vote and plunged ahead of May’s announcement Tuesday, rose sharply against the euro and the dollar after it.

Source: AFP