Former Poker Star, Lithuanian MEP Enters Race for Pro-EU UKIP Leadership

Former poker star and Lithuanian Member of the European Parliament, Antanas Guoga, has expressed interest in becoming the next UK Independence Party leader. Talking to Sputnik in an interview, Guoga shared his main goal and vision as UKIP leader.

Antanas Guoga who holds a Pro-EU vision announced Tuesday he would run for the UKIP leadership, in a gag post published on his website.

In an open letter posted on his website, Guoga, known as “Tony G” said his poker-playing expertise made him an ideal fit for the position and as a “candidate with a difference.”

He promised to represent Leave voters who have “changed their mind” regarding the European Union (EU) referendum.

Talking with Sputnik in an interview, Guoga said, “Well I just thought that they are missing something in the UKIP movement and I just thought that they need a different angle because a lot of people are changing their mind, even the ones who voted for the Brexit, even UKIP members.”

He said that he thought that maybe he could put his hand up as an alternative and that the party should have alternatives, like the conservatives do. The labor party has people that are pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit.

“I am pro-UKIP but I want to keep us in Europe all together. It’s just a different perspective and the constitution does not stop me, the constitution does not say anything about being a member for any period of time so I am fully qualified to take up the reigns and to take UKIP,” Guoga said.

The former star further said that perhaps the fight will be about coming back to Europe because according to him after they achieved the goal there was no plan to do anything, so possibly now “the party can change and everyone can stay on a derailing train by fighting to stay on the European Parliament.”

Talking about this interest in applying for candidacy, Guoga said, “In the constitution of the UKIP that you can find online, it says all party members, so I joined the party yesterday and as a party member I expect to be fully qualified and have all the credentials in order to be a candidate for the leadership.”

He said that his main goal would be to stay in the Europe Union and represent the interests of the British population including the people in Scotland, in Northern Ireland, people in London and everyone else, trying to unite them together.

Guoga said that his aim would be to change the party towards being pro-European.

The former star further said that he had a good chat with Nigel Farage and he still has some concerns about running.

“It would be great to have his endorsement because he has moved on and so I am trying to get him to endorse me; that would give me more credibility, I think, with a lot of the electorate to try to take the premiership and take the UKIP to new heights,” Guoga said.