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VIENNA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from nine European right-wing populist parties convened in Austria on Friday, their leaders calling for "patriotic solidarity" across the continent.
The proceedings began at a press conference here that featured representatives from the various parties, including Austrian Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache, and French counterpart from the National Front, Marine Le Pen.
In light of the British vote on whether to stay in the EU next week, Le Pen called for similar referendums across the continent, opining that the majority of French would be in favor of a departure from the union.
She also said the activities of the EU were getting "increasingly worse," and that "France has maybe five times more reason to want to leave the European Union than the English."
Strache in turn said the "patriotic parties" believed they could change the EU from within, via reforms in the direction of more direct democracy, a return of powers to national parliaments, and the protection of national identities.
He also likened present European politics to "suicide."
The Austrian far-right leader called for "unity for patriots" of all European countries, and a different approach towards the "modern mass migration" of people.
The attendees that also come in from Germany, Britain, Romania, Italy, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, are to attend a gathering at a location south of Vienna from the late afternoon, to be marked by speeches from various party leaders. Enditem
