The specter of Brexit is hovering over Europe. Britain is one step away from an incredible farewell from Europe. The British referendum on the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union is closing in a sensational way. At 70% of the counting of the electoral ballots, the YES to the exit from the European Union (Leave) is at 52% against the 48% of NO (Remain).
Faced with these results, albeit partial, the world of finance immediately panicked. The pound plunged to a 35-year low. Open stock exchanges in Asia are in deep red and futures signal the worst.
Only the nationalist leader Farage, an ally of the 5 Star Movement and Beppe Grillo, is celebrating, who has already announced: "Today is our Independence Day". Farage also called for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Cameron.
The whole City as well as Oxford and Cambridge voted No to leaving, but a real avalanche of YES to divorce from the EU has arrived from the North of England. The Bank of England is meeting urgently in a few minutes. Even the ECB is ready to intervene.
The consequences of the British referendum could be very serious both economically and politically, even if Italy is among the least exposed European countries. The danger is mainly that of a domino effect with the exit of Scotland from the UK, the disintegration of Great Britain and the risk of contagion also in Europe, starting from Catalonia in Spain.
