'The END of the EU is nigh' Nigel Farage warns Italian election result will crush Brussels
NIGEL FARAGE has claimed the Italian election result could crush the European Union after Luigi di Maio’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement secured 32.5 percent of the vote – becoming the first single party in Italy.
Nigel Farage warns Italian elections spell the end of the EU
The former Ukip leader who played a leading role in Britain’s decision to leave the European Union has claimed “the end of the EU is nigh” after the Italian election vote.
The comments come after the anti-establishment Five Star Movement secured over 30 percent of the vote in the Italian election becoming the first single party in Italy ahead of the incumbent Democratic Party (DC).
Speaking on his LBC show, Ukip MEP Farage said: “This is a massive, massive anti-establishment vote it is a big shift towards euroscepticism.
“I think it is a big sign that the end of the EU is nigh because why are they rebelling against the establishment? They are doing it because, yes they are dissatisfied with the Euro, but they are doing it primarily because migration has become the fault line in European politics and all the social democrat, socialist parties are seen to be just simply too soft on this issue.
Italian election result: Nigel Farage claimed the Italian election spelt the end of the EU
“This amazing situation that the anti-establishment Five Star Movement has now become Italy’s biggest party.
“In some
“We ask ourselves, where are we going with this, does this Italian result mean that
Nigel Farage's comments come following Mr Di Maio’s success. The young Italian leader has since called on the EU to give the M5S the chance to form a government despite having signalled his openness towards an anti-EU coalition with the centre-right.
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I think it is a big sign that the end of the EU is nigh
He said: "I appeal to the other European powers, to other European leaders: get to know us before you judge us."
The M5S has previously ruled out governing with any other political party, however, following the announcement of the exit polls, Alfonso Bonafede, a close ally of Five Star leader Mr Di Maio, told La7 television: "We will be a pillar of the legislature."
The result is likely to concern Brussels who will fear a coalition led by M5S will demand major reforms to the EU to return sovereignty to Rome and may even look to hold a referendum on membership of the trade bloc.
Over 50
With the new Italian electoral law, if no party or coalition reaches a majority, it will be up to President Mattarella to decide which party or coalition will be given the chance to form a government post-election.
Despite gaining the most votes in the election, M5S did not gain an overall majority in the Italian election.
Italy looks to be headed for a hung Parliament after Sunday’s general election vote and the race to Government is being fought by Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right bloc and Mr Di Maio’s M5S.
Former prime minister Mr Berlusconi's centre-right party and his far-right allies, Lega Nord, could emerge as the largest bloc in parliament but fall short of a majority.