FRENCH president Francois Hollande has called for a "profound change" in the European Union in the wake of Britain's exit from the crumbling bloc as calls for a Frexit heightened.
Ministers in the French Government met before 8am (UK time) at an emergency meeting chaired by Hollande to discuss its response to the UK's decision to untangle itself from the 28-nation bloc. The French leader said the UK's vote to leave must "jolt" the EU in to action.
He said: "The British people have decided to leave. It is a sad decision but one which I respect."The vote puts the European Union in difficulties. It must recognize its shortfalls. "A jolt is necessary. Europe must reaffirm its values of freedom, solidarity, peace. The EU must be understood and controlled by its citizens.
"I will do everything to secure profound change rather than decline." The Leave camp officially passed the winning mark just after six o'clock this morning as voters demanded Britain leave Europe.
Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen has already called for an EU referendum after she threw her weight behind the Brexit camp. This morning she repeated her previous calls for a "Frexit" following the historic vote - which saw the Leave campaign win more than 52 per cent of the votes.
She tweeted: "Victory to liberty! As I have been demanding for many years, we now need the same referendum in France and EU countries."
Hollande had previously made it clear that a leave vote was "irreversible", and that there will now be "extremely serious consequences" for the UK. Britain's decision for an exodus has sent shockwaves around the world, with the UK's allies and rivals scrambling to assess the implications of the vote.
