Tsipras: UK referendum ‘a wakeup call’ for Europe

Greece’s leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday described the outcome of the UK’s referendum as a “negative development” for the European Union, while calling for a “fresh vision” for Europe.

“The outcome of the referendum should act as a wakeup call for the sleepwalker who is heading for the abyss,” Tsipras said after the British voted to quit the bloc.

The spread of austerity policies and the failure to properly deal with the refugee crisis, the leftist premier said, had already exposed the cracks in the European project.

“The arrogant words of technocrats angered people. We need progressive reforms to raise a wall against Europskepticism,” Tsipras said.