261,159 Austrians have signed a petition demanding a referendum on whether Austria should leave the EU. The number of signatories represents 4.12% of the electorate, and as it has had more than 100,000 signatures the question of a referendum must now be discussed in parliament. The petition was initiated by 66-year-old Inge Rauscher, who launched a similar petition back in 2000 which was only signed by 3.35% of the electorate. Rauscher said that she believes there was more support for a referendum this time around due to the economic downturn and the Greek crisis. In a press release she said it was ‘a great result, we want to go back to a neutral and peace-loving Austria’, adding that Austria is currently forced to endorse economic sanctions against Russia. She also said that she believes the EU is responsible for the economic downturn. She argues that withdrawal from the EU would lead to welfare gains of €9,800 per household per year, because Austria would no longer have to help fund the EU administration.