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Greece referendum: Ukip's Nigel Farage praises Greeks for calling bluff of 'dying' EU project

Opinion polls on Friday showed that 74 per cent or more of Greeks wanted to keep the euro as their currency

Ian Johnson
Monday 06 July 2015 10:36 BST
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Ukip leader Nigel Farage has claimed that the Greek referendum result showed that the European Union was 'dying'
Ukip leader Nigel Farage has claimed that the Greek referendum result showed that the European Union was 'dying' (AP)

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Ukip leader Nigel Farage has claimed that the Greek referendum result showed that the European Union was “dying”.

Greeks voted by about 61 per cent to 39 per cent to reject a package of austerity measures sought by the EU in exchange for a continuation of vast bailout loans.

Urgent negotiations were due to take place over the next few days to secure a better deal for Greece, but several analysts speculated that the most likely outcome was the country’s exit from the euro.

That would lead to significant inflation as Greece’s new currency devalued against the euro and imports became more expensive, heaping further pain on a population reeling from years of economic decline.

Mr Farage praised Greeks for rejecting the demands from Brussels in message on Twitter.

“EU project is now dying. It’s fantastic to see the courage of the Greek people in the face of political and economic bullying from Brussels,” he wrote.

“I commend the Greek people for calling the EU’s bluff.”

However opinion polls on Friday showed that 74 per cent or more of Greeks wanted to keep the euro as their currency.

And the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras said after the referendum result became clear that he was “aware that the mandate you gave me is not a mandate for rupture” from the EU.

He described the vote as a “bright day in the history of Europe”.

Comedian David Schneider also welcomed the referendum result, but found it strange he was joined by Mr Farage.

“All a bit weird at the #greekreferendum party on Twitter as us anti-austerity lefties rub shoulders with Ukippers. Pass the ouzo, Nigel,” he wrote.

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