Brexit shows Europe's need to 'lance the boil': French PM

June 29, 2016 00:16

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Tuesday that after Britain's vote to leave the European Union, the bloc needs to "lance the boil" and reform to remedy a pervasive malaise.

Valls said the shock vote proved that many citizens of the European Union had deep doubts about the bloc.

"They don't understand what it does, they cannot see what it brings them. To them, Europe is invasive on minor issues, and absent on the essential," he told the French National Assembly.

"Worse, they feel it imposes its choices and systematically acts against their interests. The pro-Brexit slogan 'take back the power' says things very clearly. And we cannot ignore it."

"We must lance the boil, this vote shows the malaise of the people," Valls said, adding that if Europe did not work with its people, it would "disintegrate".

"The alternative is simple: either we do as we have always done, avoiding the evidence and trying to plug the gaps ... or we finally pluck up the courage to go all out, turn this shock into an electroshock and an opportunity."

Valls said it would be a mistake to think that the referendum concerned only the British, saying the future of the entire bloc that is at stake.

"I refuse to see this great project veer off course. I refuse to see it founder and sink, pulled under by the growing weight of populism. I refuse to see us cede to fatalism, pessimism," said Valls, who was born in Spain and became a French citizen aged 20.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

T20 World Cup dreams on hold? Gill says focus is on GT

Shubman Gill feels that he will be "doing injustice to himself and his team" if national selection occupies his mind.

Chess whiz Gukesh reveals his inspiration: Find out who

D Gukesh admires the way charismatic former India skipper MS Dhoni and iconic tennis player Novak Djokovic

Rahul, Hema in fray as 88 seats go to polls in Phase 2

Voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls will be held on Friday for 88 seats in 13 states with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a second-straight term from Wayanad in Kerala.

India calls US report on human rights 'deeply biased'

India on Friday described a United States State Department report citing alleged incidents of human rights violations including in Manipur as 'deeply biased' and said it reflects a poor understanding of India and it attach no value to it.

Investors' wealth up by Rs 11 lk cr in 5 days

The market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies jumped to a lifetime peak of Rs 404.18 lakh crore on Thursday helped by a five-day rally in benchmark indices, making investors richer by Rs 11.29 lakh crore. Recovering after a sell-off...