Marine and Marion Le Pen call for referendum in France on European Union membership

LEADERS of France’s far-right call for a similar referendum in France, sparking fears of contagion across the eurozone.

France’s darling of the far-right Marion Le Pen has called for a “Frexit”. Picture: Twitter.

LEADERS of France’s far-right Front Nationale have praised the UK decision to leave the EU and called for a similar vote in France.

Presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen wrote on Twitter: “Victory for freedom! As I have been asking for years, now we need to have the same referendum in France and in the countries of the EU.”

She also changed her profile picture to a Union Jack and called a referendum in France a “democratic necessity”.

“The British people have given to Europeans and to all the people of the world a shining lesson in democracy,” she said.

Her niece Marion Le Pen has also called for a Frexit, saying “the French should have the right to choose.”

Du #Brexit au #Frexit : Il est désormais temps d'importer la démocratie dans notre pays. Les Français doivent avoir le droit de choisir !

— Marion Le Pen (@Marion_M_Le_Pen) June 24, 2016

Victoire de la liberté ! Comme je le demande depuis des années, il faut maintenant le même référendum en France et dans les pays de l'UE MLP

— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) June 24, 2016

Marine Le Pen has congratulated Britain and repeated calls for a similar vote in France. Picture: AFP/MATTHIEU ALEXANDRE

European leaders have reacted with shock to the news the UK would leave the 28-member bloc after a referendum was won by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

Four EU leaders including EU Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called for the split to happen quickly saying further delays would “prolong uncertainty”.

Others have pushed for reform of the institution that has been criticised for being bloated and undemocratic if it wants to avoid further losses.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said the project could end in “catastrophe” unless it is reformed.

“If there is a deeper reflection, a pause in the pushing of this French-German model, then the union will survive. But if the eurozone is forced, and the eurozone creates some new institutions, its own budget and treats the whole European Union as a facade, then it may all end in a catastrophe.”

He said other countries may now use referendums to “blackmail the EU to win a change in their status.”

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said EU officials need to not go back to “business as usual” but look at real concerns of citizens.

Austrian chancellor Christian Kern said the EU needed “a reform process with a clear direction.”

Italy’s foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni also said it was a “wakeup call” for the bloc which should prompt leaders into relaunching “common policies for growth, for migration and common defense.”

The European Central Bank says it is “closely monitoring financial markets” in the wake of the British vote to leave the European Union.