Austrian far-right demands EU referendum

After Brexit on Thursday, the right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) has also demanded a referendum on the membership in the European Union, the media reported on Sunday.

Norbert Hofer, the former FPO's presidential candidate, said if the EU is headed to more centralism, then Austria should ask whether it wants to remain as a member or not, Efe news reported.

Hofer lost last May to ecologist candidate Alexander Van der Bellen in the second round of the presidential elections, the results of which the FPO has challenged.

Analysts in Austria said the Constitutional Court might order an election rerun in the coming days due to a number of irregularities reported by the FPO in the counting of votes.

Hofer said if the EU developed in the wrong way and headed toward centralism rather than focusing on the values of its foundation, or if Turkey joined as a member, then it is time for Austrians to vote on whether they want to remain in the bloc.

--IANS

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