French economist Piketty says it will be "political suicide" if Britain leaves the EU

Record ID: 103443

  • Title: French economist Piketty says it will be "political suicide" if Britain leaves the EU
  • Date: 13th May 2016
  • Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 13, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POSTER OF FILM 'CAPITAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY' BASED ON FRENCH AUTHOR AND ECONOMIST THOMAS PIKETTY BEST SELLING BOOK PIKETTY WALKING INTO EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH AUTHOR AND ECONOMIST, THOMAS PIKETTY, SAYING: "I think it will be very sad for Europe. I think it will be, you know, even worse for Britain. I think for Britain it would be like a political suicide because after this happens, very likely, the next step will be Scotland will get out of Britain, which will then become a very small country basically. So Britain is less than one percent of the world population, two to three percent of world GDP but that's going to shrink in the future.'' PIKETTY TALKING TO JOURNALIST GUESTS AT EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH AUTHOR AND ECONOMIST, THOMAS PIKETTY, SAYING: "We need to build a more integrated Europe within Europe. So countries like Britain or Poland don't want more integration ok that's fine this is there business but it should not prevent France and Germany and Italy and Spain, who together represent seventy-five per cent of the population and GDP of the Eurozone to design a better policy, a better institution for the future.'' PIKETTY POSING FOR PICTURES PIKETTY TALKING AT EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH AUTHOR AND ECONOMIST, THOMAS PIKETTY, SAYING: "That is certainly something I never thought of happening when I wrote the book. You know, look we are in Cannes right now. I love cinema. I live in Paris where there are movie theatres everywhere I go. I go to the movie theatre twice a week or three times but I would never before have thought that I would come to Cannes because my book was to become a film, so this is an incredible adventure.'' VIEW OF CANNES HARBOUR
  • Embargoed: 28th May 2016 20:41
  • Keywords: Thomas Piketty Britain France EU Brexit Cannes
  • Location: CANNES, FRANCE
  • City: CANNES, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014HN77EV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Renowned French author and economist, Thomas Piketty, urged the British public on Friday (May 13) to vote to stay in the EU when the country has its referendum. Britain heads to the polls on June 23 to decide whether to remain in the EU.
    "I think it will be very sad for Europe. I think it will be, you know, even worse for Britain. I think for Britain it would be like a political suicide because after this happens, very likely, the next step will be Scotland will get out of Britain, which will then become a very small country basically."
    Piketty is in Cannes to announce that his book, 'Capital in the 21st Century', is to be turned into a film. The book reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list and has sold nearly three million copies worldwide. It explores how capitalism affects the world.
    "I would never before have thought that I would come to Cannes because my book was to become a film, so this is an incredible adventure," Piketty said.
    The film will be co-production between New Zealand and France and will be directed by Justin Pemberton.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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