Czech president wants referendum on EU & NATO membership

The President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman has called for a referendum on his country’s membership in the EU and NATO. Although Zeman wants to remain in both organizations, he wants the public to have a chance to “express themselves,” Russia Today reported.

Following on Britain’s vote to exit the EU, Zeman now wants to give the Czech public the chance to decide their own future, as skepticism about the merits of remaining in the bloc continues to rise. 

“I disagree with those who are for leaving the European Union,” Czech Radio quoted Zeman as saying on Thursday evening. “But I will do everything for them to have a referendum and be able to express themselves. And the same goes for a NATO exit too,” he added. 

Zeman’s plans have not been well received across the EU, which is already reeling from the political and economic fallout of Britain’s decision to leave the bloc. In the wake of the vote, the leader of France’s far-right National Front party Marine Le Pen also called for a referendum on leaving the EU for her country. 

In response to Zeman’s proposal, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka’s office said that the government has no intention of holding a referendum. 

However, Sobotka admits that changes to the bloc need to be made.

Source; MENA