Jean-Claude Juncker begs EU leaders not to hold more Referendums as he fears they will vote to LEAVE too
The European Commission chief said it would be “unwise” for member states to give people a say as they could follow Britain’s lead
EUROPE’s top bureaucrat has urged EU leaders not to hold any more Referendums – as he fears other voters will also choose to LEAVE the bloc.
European Commission chief Jean Claude Juncker said it would be “unwise” for member states to give people a say as they could follow Britain’s lead.
He was speaking after the far-right candidate in Austria’s upcoming Presidential Election threatened to hold a Referendum if the EU becomes even more centralised.
Norbert Hofer could be elected into power in Vienna on Sunday.
Mr Juncker said: “We can’t deny or take away the people of Europe’s right to express their views.
“[But] regarding referenda on EU membership, I think it is not wise to organise this kind of debate, not only because I might be concerned about the final result but because this will pile more controversy onto the huge number already present at the heart of the EU.”
The comments came in an interview to Euronews – shortly before it emerged the Commission chief was pocketing a back-dated £8,700 pay rise this year.
He promised the EU would not seek “revenge” against Britain over Brexit. But he said Brits cannot be given the same “rights and advantages” as citizens of the European Union.
And in a bizarre twist, he blamed the EU’s woes on a “lack of love” between member states.
He said: “What do the people in Lapland know about Sicily?
“What do the Italians in south know about the depths of Poland? Nothing. We need to take more of an interest in each other.”
Mr Hofer is currently leading the polls in Austria ahead of the Presidential Election this coming Sunday.
The vote is a re-run after the Greens-backed independent Alexander Van der Bellen won in May by the tiny margin of 50.3 per cent to 49.7 per cent.
Mr Hofer got the largest number of votes in the Spring but lost the second round – a result that was then annulled by the highest court in the country.
Judges declared postal votes had been illegally and improperly handled.