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Jim Mellon, the Chairman of the Burnbrae Group, has warned the currency will become a victim in the growing anti-establishment surge which will cause the EU to fracture - all within five years. He said: “Brexit is going to be a sideshow to the problems of Europe that are becoming more and more evident. “The euro as it stands at the moment is just a very inappropriate mechanism — I give the euro between one and five years of life.”

Getty The euro has been predicted to collapse by Jim Mellon within five years

PR handout Burnbrae Group Chairman Jim Mellon

The euro as it stands at the moment is just a very inappropriate mechanism - I give the euro between one and five years of life Jim Mellon, chairman of the Burnbrae Group

The UK’s recent Brexit vote, along with Donald Trump's election as US President, has signalled a sea-change in global politics and populist movements around the world have gathered pace. Italy’s referendum vote at the weekend, as well as France’s presidential election next year, could also see upsets at the ballot box, giving currency traders cause for concern and initiating a run on the euro.

What countries are in the EU? Wed, September 14, 2016 In the wake of Brexit, we look at the 28 member states that are in the European Union. Play slideshow Getty 1 of 29 Countries that are in the European Union

Getty A Euro currency symbol as part of a lifesize Game of the Goose

Last week, the euro dropped to $1.0518, it’s lowest point since March 2015 and Mr Mellon expects the currency to fall further, reaching parity to the dollar “sometime over the next year”. Italy’s dire economic situation - with high unemployment and a crumbling financial sector - has caused Mr Mellon to sell Italian government bonds.

YouTube Jim Mellon, the Chairman of the Burnbrae Group

Current Italian 10-year bonds hit 2.23 per cent on November 14, its highest since July 2015 – but still some way off its five-year average of 3.24 percent. Mr Mellon said: “I have been a very big seller of any government bonds this year, anywhere basically, but my favourite are the Italian bonds. “Everyone who participates in this stupid bonds market should know that there is a serious duration risk. If you buy something for a very long period with no interest rates, you are going to get your head handed to you at some point.”

Getty One US dollar with a one Euro coin and a pound coing