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Russian lawmaker believes Brexit may trigger chain of referendums in EU

The Russian Federation Council speaker says Brexit may entail a series of attempts at holding similar polls in the EU

© EPA/HAYOUNG JEON

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Top Russian lawmaker says Brexit may reshape whole world

MOSCOW, June 27. /TASS/. Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko believes that Britain’s referendum on its further membership in the European Union (commonly known as Brexit) may entail a series of attempts at holding similar polls in the EU.

"This may trigger a wave of attempts at such referendums. This rings alarm bells for the European Union," Matviyenko told a news conference following the spring session of 2016.

In Britain’s June 23 referendum the opponents of euro-integration gained the upper hand: 51.9% of British voters said they would like the country to leave the EU, while 48.1% said Britain should remain an EU member.

The referendum’s outcome is a recommendation. Theoretically, the results may be submitted to parliament for consideration. The legislators may either agree with the popular opinion or make the opposite decision. Also, calling another referendum is a possibility. Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to act on the will of the British people, who said they would like to leave the EU.

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