The decision by the UK to go it alone leaves the jilted European Union with some tough soul searching of its own as it contemplates a new future. Sure, it's only losing one of its 28 member nations, but that departure could have huge consequences. Some warn it could lead to the eventual collapse of the world's biggest trading bloc as other countries follow suit. Seismic political changes could be on the horizon too.
Shellshocked by the landmark vote -- the first of its kind by an EU nation -- the remaining 27 countries were Friday trying to thrash out a strategy for dealing with it. Donald Tusk, the EU's president, called an informal meeting of European leaders, while warning against "hysterical reactions."
France's far-right Front National party was Friday calling for a similar vote, seizing on the UK's decision as an endorsement on its own anti-Europe and anti-immigration policies -- a Frexit to follow the Brexit.
The party's deputy leader, Florian Philippot, tweeted: "The freedom of the people always ends up winning! Bravo United Kingdom. Now it's our turn!"
In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Freedom Party made his own call for a vote via Twitter: "Hurrah for the British! Now it is our turn. Time for a Dutch referendum!"
Italy's Five Star movement has also called for a vote, while the country's finance minister, Pier Carlo Padoan warned of a "domino effect."
British withdrawal from the European Union, often shortened to Brexit (a portmanteau of "British" or "Britain" and "exit"), is a political goal that was pursued by various individuals, advocacy groups, and political parties since the United Kingdom (UK) joined the precursor of the European Union (EU) in 1973. Withdrawal from the European Union is a right of EU member states under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.
Credit: CNN/Wikipedia
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