Nevsky
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Czech President Milos Zeman has called for the Czech Republic to hold a referendum on its membership of the European Union and NATO following Britain's shock vote to leave the EU, though he said he backed his country staying in both organisations.
Zeman has no power to call a referendum, which would require a constitutional amendment. But he is an influential leader in a country where many voters are sceptical about the EU, which the Czech Republic joined in 2004.
"I disagree with those who are for leaving the European Union," Czech Radio quoted Zeman as saying at a meeting with citizens in the eastern Czech town of Velke Mezirici on Thursday evening.
"But I will do everything for them to have a referendum and be able to express themselves. And the same goes for a NATO exit too," the centre-left president added.
The EU is struggling to contain the political and economic fallout of Britain's decision last week to leave the bloc. The British vote has rocked global financial markets, emboldened eurosceptic forces across Europe and raised concerns that other member states may consider leaving the EU.
In the Czech Republic, satisfaction with EU membership fell to 25 percent in an April survey by the CVVM institute, down from 32 percent the year before.
In neighbouring Slovakia, the far-right People's Party plans to launch a petition on Friday to hold referenda on that country's EU and NATO membership.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-czech-president-idUKKCN0ZH4AV
Zeman has no power to call a referendum, which would require a constitutional amendment. But he is an influential leader in a country where many voters are sceptical about the EU, which the Czech Republic joined in 2004.
"I disagree with those who are for leaving the European Union," Czech Radio quoted Zeman as saying at a meeting with citizens in the eastern Czech town of Velke Mezirici on Thursday evening.
"But I will do everything for them to have a referendum and be able to express themselves. And the same goes for a NATO exit too," the centre-left president added.
The EU is struggling to contain the political and economic fallout of Britain's decision last week to leave the bloc. The British vote has rocked global financial markets, emboldened eurosceptic forces across Europe and raised concerns that other member states may consider leaving the EU.
In the Czech Republic, satisfaction with EU membership fell to 25 percent in an April survey by the CVVM institute, down from 32 percent the year before.
In neighbouring Slovakia, the far-right People's Party plans to launch a petition on Friday to hold referenda on that country's EU and NATO membership.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-czech-president-idUKKCN0ZH4AV
