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Shock as Britain votes to leave EU

PR dla Zagranicy
Agnieszka Łaszczuk 24.06.2016 08:29
Britons have voted to leave the EU in a historic referendum, a result that has sent tremors across Europe and sparked turmoil on global markets.
British PM David Cameron announces his resignation after losing the vote in the EU referendum. Photo: EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA.British PM David Cameron announces his resignation after losing the vote in the EU referendum. Photo: EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA.

British Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would resign by October after voters swatted aside his arguments that the UK should stay in the European Union.

In Thursday's ballot, 51.9% voted to leave -- some 17.4 million people. And 48.1% voted to remain in the EU -- around 16.1 million citizens.

Turnout in the referendum was over 70%, with over 30 million people voting.

Poland's Ryszard Czarnecki, Vice-President of the European Parliament, said the result “is a bad day for Poland and Europe” adding that the decision “will weaken the European Union, for example in its relations with Russia.”

“Internally, it will make Germany and France stronger within the bloc,” he added.

Global markets reacted sharply to the vote for a Brexit, with the British pound recording a historic plunge and reaching its lowest level against the dollar in decades.

The złoty and other emerging markets currencies also weakened following the news.

Polish officials have argued that a so-called Brexit would badly hit the British and European economy.

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said that Britain would remain a key ally for Poland, despite its decision to leave the EU.

Waszczykowski told Polish Radio: “Britain was, is and will remain an ally in several areas that have not changed - on questions of security, Europe. Britain will remain in NATO, will remain a transatlantic country that links Europe with the United States. Here, as our ally, that will not change.”

He added: “But of course Britain, leaving the EU, will stop being our ally in a certain concept of the development of the EU because it will no longer take part in decisions.” (ał/pk)

Source: BBC, PAP/Polish Radio

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