From Grexit to Brexit: Eurosceptics claim their -exit

[PARIS] It started with "Grexit" - the long trumpeted but never realised axing of Greece from the European Union. It was then reborn as "Brexit" as Britain started down the - this time voluntary - path of leaving the bloc.

The "-exit" formulation was coined by two economists from US financial giant Citigroup in February 2012 to describe the possible of departure of Greece from the EU.

It has now taken on a life of its own on social media, with eurosceptics across the continent all clamouring for their own vote on EU membership: - "Frexit": French far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for a "Frexit" shortly after the results of Britain's membership referendum were announced.

"Victory for Freedom! As I have been asking for years, we must now have the same referendum in France and EU countries," she declared on Twitter.

"Nexit": "Now it is our turn," trumpeted Geert Wilders, the leader of the anti-Islam far-right Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands, after Britain opted out of the EU. Mr Wilders has promised to make a referendum on a "Nexit" a central plank of his party's election campaign.

"Oexit": Austria's version comes from Oesterreich, the country's name in Austrian. And the idea is gaining ground in a country where far right party leader Norbert Hofer came within a hair's width of being elected to the largely ceremonial but coveted post of president last month. "Outstria" has been suggested as an alternative.

"Swexit": The far right Sweden Democrats have floated the idea of a "Swexit", with opinion polls suggesting support for leaving the EU stands at 31 per cent.

"Fixit": Although the English version doesn't quite hold the right connotations, a petition calling for a Finnish exit has garnered thousands of signatures.

"Dexit": The phrase has emerged in the Danish press, where the populist Danish People's Party (DPP) has been calling for a renegotiation of its EU accords.

"Gerxit": It has appeared in French- and English-language media, but the idea of a "Gerxit" has little traction back at home in Germany. Though right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Frauke Petry did describe "Brexit" as a warning to the EU.

"If the EU does not abandon its quasi-socialist experiment of ever-greater integration then the European people will follow the Brits and take back their sovereignty," he said.

"Italexit": A bid to leave the EU has also not gained much ground at home in Italy, a founding member of the union - apart from with the country's most prominent far-right politician, Matteo Salvini.

"Cheers to the bravery of free citizens," the leader of the anti-immigration, anti-EU Northern League wrote on Twitter. "Heart, head and pride beat lies, threats and blackmail. THANKS UK, now it is our turn #Brexit".

AFP

For more coverage of the EU referendum, visit bt.sg/BrexiT