A Mix of Shock and Hope: How World Leaders Reacted to Brexit

Many have raised concerns over Britain’s economy and political future post the EU referendum.

Leader of the UK Independent Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage talks to the media on Friday as UK decided to leave EU. (Photo: AP)

With 52 percent in favour of ‘Leave’, the UK will leave the European Union (EU) after 43 years.

In what is being termed a historic referendum, almost as big as the World War both in gravity and stature, politicos have made up their mind about Brexit.

Also Read: Live: PM David Cameron to Remain in Office Despite Brexit Vote

Russian, French and Hungarian Leaders React

• Britain’s vote to leave the European Union has no serious risks for Russia, but it is likely to lower “investor appetite” for taking risks, TASS news agency quoted Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev as saying.
  
  
• Brexit vote shows that Brussels must listen to the voice of the people and give proper answers to such pivotal issues as migration, said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
  
  
• France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said he was “sad for the United Kingdom” after Britons voted to leave the EU in a referendum, and that Europe must react.
  
  
• Brexit vote is bad news for Europe and for Poland and it is a signal that some concepts of the bloc will have to be changed, said Poland’s Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski.
  

Also Read: India Well-Prepared to See Out the Initial Brexit Storm: Jaitley

Indian Leaders Optimistic

For India’s RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, the Indian economy has good fundamentals and sizeable foreign reserves to tackle the ramifications of Brexit. Voicing a similar opinion, Arun Jaitley, India’s Finance Minister says, “we are well-prepared to deal with the short- and medium-term consequences of Brexit.”

Also Read: How Will Brexit Affect India?

Short, Sharp and Brutal

British writer and historian Patrick French puts it in less than 140 characters.

Not mincing any words, French is brutally honest.

Worst Night Since 2008 Financial Crisis?

Britain’s chief market analyst Chris Beauchamp thinks so.

“We’re seeing an unraveling of positions now that clearly shows that financial markets were heavily weighted one side. The financial markets looked at the polls and the betting markets – all the information available.They suggested it would be close but history suggests that undecideds tend to go with the status quo. We’re now seeing highly volatile financial markets. We’ve had the worst night for the pound since the financial crisis.”

Mohamed A El-Erian, Chair of US President Obama’s Global Development Council calls the verdict historical and significant.

“To put it simply, it has introduced massive institutional uncertainty, on top of economical fragility and financial fluidity.”

Government Failed the White Working Class

Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb spoke to The Guardian and conceded that the government failed to get its message across to the white working class.

I just think there is a disconnect with the white working class. We didn’t get our core messages across to them.When we tried to explain to them just how important the European Single Market was to their jobs, their livelihoods, we didn’t quite land those messages successfully.

Will this be a cue for other countries to leave? (Photo: AP)

A Precedent for Other Countries?

Dutch politician, Geert Wilders on his website said that Brexit is a precedent for other European countries to exit the EU.

We want be in charge of our own country, our own money, our own borders, and our own immigration policy. If I become prime minister, there will be a referendum in the Netherlands on leaving the European Union as well. Let the Dutch people decide.

‘Brexit is the Cost of Partition’

In an interview with BBC, Irish politician Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney has called the decision to leave the European Union a “democratic deficit” and that “Brexit is the cost of partition”.

UK Independence Party (UKIP) party leader Nigel Farage. (Photo: AP)

For Nigel Farage It’s Independence Day

Leader of the UK Independent Party, Nigel Farage has been leading the Leave campaign and is visibly thrilled with the results.

He also wants 23 June to be declared a national holiday.

The first thing we have to do is have a government that is committed to Brexit. That is absolutely key. I think it is very difficult for (Cameron) to stay on as prime minister.

Chuka Umunna, London Labour MP, lashed out at Farage in an interview with BBC.

“When [Farage] gets up and says this is a victory for decent, for honest, real ordinary people, that tends to suggest that all the people who have just voted for us to stay don’t fit into that category. The challenge for us as policymakers is how do we knit together our society after that division.”

Brexit a Representation of ‘Class Divide’: MP John Mann

Labour MP John Mann told BBC that the referendum result shows the “division” between the “working class and middle classes”.

Rooting for Cameron

Tory rebel and Brexiter Andrew Bridgen called on David Cameron to “stabilise the situation”.

Will it be in the interest of the country for the prime minister to resign this morning? I don’t think so. Given all the volatility at the moment I think we can give the prime minister a little breathing space. I think he has been very badly advised. I wish the prime minister had stayed above this and been a little more impartial.

Andrew Bridgen to <i>BBC Radio</i>

Asked whether he would carry out his threat of a no confidence vote in the prime minister, Bridgen said:

I don’t think it will come to that. The prime minister will consider what the people have said, I think he will act in the interest of the country. Short-term he is going to need to get a grip, reshuffle his cabinet and address the pressing issues of Scotland, Northern Ireland and the financial markets, where there is going to be some short-term volatility.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says he believes David Cameron will continue as prime minister despite being on the losing side of the vote.

“The prime minister’s... been clear that whatever the outcome of this referendum he will continue as prime minister,” Mr Hammond told Sky News.

“What the country needs now is a sense of continuity and stability,” he added.

File photo of David Cameron at an EU summit. (Photo: AP)

Liam Fox, the former defence secretary and leave campaigner concurs with Bridgen.

I think he should stay because there is clearly going to be some short-term turbulence, we have seen that in the markets tonight, although one might ask why they weren’t better prepared for the possibility of a Brexit vote.&nbsp;

Liam Fox to <i>Sky News</i>

Some Remain Positive

European Parliament president Martin Schulz has dismissed the perception that the result will cause a domino effect across Europe.

We respect the way Great Britain has decided to go. David Cameron has put a great responsibility on his shoulders. We now have to negotiate seriously with Great Britain. It will be treated as a ‘third country’. &nbsp;