Over for EU? CHEXIT on the cards as Czech Republic party leader calls for referendum
THE Czech Republic could follow in Britain’s footsteps and hold a referendum on leaving the European Union, according to the leader of a far-right party.
Tomio Okamura and his Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (SPD) could be about to become the kingmaker in this weekend’s general election.
His party has experienced a huge surge in popularity in the polls on the eve of the vote - meaning he could secure 10 per cent and form part of the governing coalition.
And Mr Okamura insisted he would use his newfound power to push his hardline anti-EU and anti-immigration policies into the mainstream.
He told the Telegraph: “We want to leave just like Britain and we want a referendum on EU membership.
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“Over the last couple of years, the EU has shown itself to be un-reformable.
“The elites are incapable of showing the flexibility needed to react to current and crucial problems such as terrorism and the migration of Muslim-African colonisers to Europe.”
The half Japanese politician has become increasingly popular amongst disaffected Czech citizens.
And while most opinion polls point to the centre-right Ano party as the clear favourite, Mr Okamura is expected to play kingmaker.
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We want to leave just like Britain and we want a referendum on EU membership.
And while Ano may be loathed to work with the far-right SPD, the party has its own anti-EU roots and may back the calls for a referendum on leaving the Brussels bloc.
Businessman Babiš has maintained a consistent lead with the most recent predictions giving him a 12.5 per cent lead over his nearest rival.
If the polls play out in the two-day ballot today and tomorrow, Mr Babiš’s ANP party would win 25 per cent of the national vote and come away with around 67 seats in the country's legislature.
The former Finance Minister - dubbed the ‘Czech Donald Trump’ - is ardently against the country adopting the euro.
And he also seems to have tapped in to an anti-EU sentiment in the Czech Republic while on the campaign trail - speaking out against what he perceives as “European meddling”.
Recent surveys in the country show only a third agree the EU is a “good thing” and only 25 per cent want to adopt the euro.
Other ANO policies include tightening up the Czech border and refusing to accept refugees from border nations such as Italy and Greece.