Brexit could have a domino effect, analysts say

The UK's vote to leave the EU has sparked demands from far-right parties for referendums in other member states

Far-right leaders have already started demanding similar referendums
Far-right leaders have already started demanding similar referendums

The UK on Thursday voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union after 43 years, in a historic referendum.

According to the BBC, analysts say that EU politicians now will fear a domino effect that could threaten the whole organisation.

France's National Front leader Marine Le Pen hailed the UK vote, tweeting: "Victory for freedom. As I've been saying for years, we must now have the same referendum in France and other EU countries."

She is the front-runner among candidates for the presidential election in 2017 but opinion polls suggest she would lose a run-off vote.

"France has possibly 1,000 more reasons to want to leave the EU than the English," she reportedly told a gathering of far-right parties in Vienna last Friday.

She said the EU was responsible for high unemployment and failing to keep out "smugglers, terrorists and economic migrants".

Dutch anti-immigration politician, Geert Wilders, said the Netherlands now deserved a "Nexit" vote.

"We want to be in charge of our own country, our own money, our own borders, and our own immigration policy,” Wilders, who is the leader of the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands, said in a statement.

"As quickly as possible the Dutch need to get the opportunity to have their say about Dutch membership of the European Union."

The Netherlands faces a general election in March and some opinion polls suggest Wilders is leading.

"If I become prime minister, there will be a referendum in the Netherlands on leaving the European Union. Let the Dutch people decide," he said.

A recent Dutch survey suggested 54% of the people in the Netherlands want a referendum.