5 Star Movement

Party leader |  Luigi Di Maio
Parliamentary leader |
Founded |  October 4, 2009
Headquarters |
Political ideology |  Populism
Political position |  Big tent
International affiliation |  Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy
Color(s) |  yellow and white
Website |  movimento5stelle.it

The 5 Star Movement (M5S) is a liberal political party in Italy that once was populist before shifting toward the Left. It was founded in 2009 by comedian Beppe Grillo as an anti-establishment protest party, but it quickly gained support and became Italy's largest single political party in 2018.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Electoral success
* 1.2 Decline and left-wing coalition
* 2 Positions
* 3 References

## History[edit]

### Electoral success[edit]

While the M5S performed poorly in Italy's 2017 mayoral elections,[1][2] the year earlier, it captured the mayorship of Rome.[3] Virginia Raggi, the M5S mayor of Rome called for a suspension of immigration into the city.[4] The M5S performed well in the 2017 Sicilian regional elections, a region heavily impacted by the migrant crisis.[5]

In the 2018 election, M5S along with Lega Nord performed very well, and M5S became the largest single party in Italy.[6] along with massive losses for the Italian left-wing.[7] The party performed so well that in Sicily it won more seats than the number of candidates it put up in the region.[8] Overall, populist and Euroskeptic parties received over 50% of the popular vote.[9] In May 2018, M5S anti-establishment Lega Nord agreed to a common platform, one that promoted strongly nationalist and anti-establishment policies.[10] Both parties allowed their voters to choose whether they approved of the coalition agenda.[11] Despite this, Italy's establishment president rejected the coalition government as it supported nominating a Euroskeptic finance minister.[12] However, a few days later, the two parties were able to reach a compromise with Italy's president and finalized their governing coalition.[13] The new government, Western Europe's first one completely run by populist and anti-establishment parties, was sworn in on June 1, 2018.[14] Giuseppe Conte was named the government's prime minister.

### Decline and left-wing coalition[edit]

After government coalition's beginning, the M5S found it difficult to keep momentum and maintain its polling numbers as the more conservative Lega Nord took the spotlight.[15] By early 2019, the party was performing significantly worse in various regional elections than it did in the general election, while the League's popularity surged.[16] The division between the League and M5S increased.[17] The M5S performed poorly in the 2019 European Parliament election, nearly halving its 2018 election support.[18] Some M5S members and politicians defected, or considered defecting, to Salvini's League.[19]

Despite repeatedly claiming it would never form an alliance with the far-left Democratic Party, the M5S did just that in August 2019, with the sole purpose of ousting the conservative Salvini from the government.[20] The new coalition began reinstating status-quo, open borders immigration policies.[21] The Italian government worked to align itself with France's globalist president Emmanuel Macron,[22] and M5S shifted even further toward the establishment left when it announced a local-level alliance with the Italian Democrats.[23] The M5S's coalition partners also called for the establishment of birthright citizenship in Italy.[24]

By the end of October 2019, Italy's unemployment rate had risen to nearly 10% under the M5S–Democrat government.[25]

In November 2019, the coalition government required all Italian public school students to study climate change.[26][27]

The coalition government considered giving 400,000 euros to the Italian Communist Party for its 100th anniversary and making that day a national day.[28]

## Positions[edit]

M5S is considered a populist party, but unlike right-wing populist and Euroskeptic parties, it is more centrist overall on issues related to immigration and the European Union, having moderated as it became a more established force.[29][30][31] It has defined itself as an anti-establishment movement.[32][33] The party has attempted to join the left-wing environmentalist "Green" faction in the European Parliament.[34]

In contrast to Matteo Salvini's Lega Nord, the 5 Star Movement is hostile to Israel. Manlio Di Stefano, one of the leader of this party has accused Israel of committing a "genocide" and claimed that Hamas is apparently just a political party that has resorted to terrorism solely because of "the isolation of Gaza." The party has declared that it would officially recognize a "State of Palestine" when they get into power and condemned the settlement program in the West Bank. Its founder Beppe Grillo believes in 9/11 conspiracy theories and party leaders have supported the Chemtrail conspiracy theory.[35] The M5S has taken a critical stance toward certain liberal French policies, and criticism from M5S leaders partially led France to recall its ambassador to Italy in February 2019.[36]

The M5S takes left-wing stances on social issues, and in 2019, it condemned a pro-family conference as being "medieval."[37]

On October 20, 2022 former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and leader of the Five Star Movement party (M5S), urged against new arms deliveries to the Zelensky regime and called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.[38]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ D'Emilio, Frances (June 12, 2017). Populists' surge in Italy stops in voting for Italy's mayors. Fox News. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
2. ↑ Zampano, Giada (June 12, 2017). 5Stars suffer setback in Italy’s local elections. Politico. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
3. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (June 20, 2016). Populist Woman Mayor Wins Rome by Landslide: ‘New Era’ Begins. Breitbart News. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
See also:
* Five Star Populists Lose Out in Italian Mayoral Vote. Breitbart News. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
4. ↑ Shaw, Adam (June 15, 2017). Mayor of Rome Calls for Suspension of Flow of Migrants into the City. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
5. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (November 7, 2017). Populists Crush Center-Left Social Democrats in Sicily Elections. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
6. ↑ Multiple references:
* Newman, Alex (March 5, 2018). Anti-Establishment Parties Surge in Italian Election. The New American. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
* Williams, Thomas D. (March 5, 2018). Populists Sweep Italian National Elections, 5-Star Movement Big Winner. Breitbart News. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
* Birnbaum, Michael (March 4, 2018). Fragmented Italian election result reveals power of populists. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
See also:
* Edwards, Catherine (February 12, 2018). Is Italy's Five Star Movement still an 'anti-establishment' party? The Local. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
7. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (March 6, 2018). Italy Election Aftermath: Renzi Quits, Center-Left ‘Disappears’. Breitbart News. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
8. ↑ Reale, Claudio (March 6, 2018). Elezioni, vittoria troppo larga per M5S: in Sicilia più seggi che candidati. Palermo. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
9. ↑ Multiple references:
* D'Emilio, Frances (March 5, 2018). Italy's Populist Parties Rule the Day, but Will They Rule? U.S. News & World Report (from the Associated Press). Retrieved March 23, 2018.
* Birnbaum, Michael (March 5, 2018). Italian populists declare new epoch after election victory. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
* Anti-EU parties make big gains in the Italian general election. The Economist. March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
10. ↑ Multiple references:
* Shaw, Adam (May 19, 2018). Italy on cusp of populist coalition after parties publish radical joint program. Fox News. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
* Lane, Oliver JJ (May 18, 2018). Italian Populists Publish Governing Contract, Slams Failure of ‘Unsustainable’ Immigration. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
* Politi, James; Romei, Valentina (May 18, 2018). Five Star and League strike Italy government deal. Financial Times. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
11. ↑ Segreti, Giulia (May 20, 2018). Italians back League, 5-Star plan as groups ready government team. Reuters. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
See also:
* Barigazzi, Jacopo (May 20, 2018). 6 out of 10 Italians approve of populist government: survey. Politico. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
12. ↑ Multiple references:
* Williams, Thomas D. (May 27, 2018). Sabotage: Italian President Blocks Eurosceptic Coalition Govt, Populist Leader Calls for Impeachment. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
* Zampano, Giada (May 27, 2018). Italy’s president scotches populist governing alliance. Politico. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
13. ↑ Multiple references:
* Montgomery, Jack (May 31, 2018). Breakthrough: Populist Italian Govt Back on the Cards as Five-Star and Lega Ink Fresh Deal. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
* Scherer, Steve; Jones, Gavin (May 31, 2018). Italy's anti-establishment leaders revive governing coalition. Reuters. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
* Barry, Colleen (May 31, 2018). Italy gets western Europe’s 1st populist govt on second try. Associated Press. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
* Horowitz, Jason (May 31, 2018). Italy's Populist Parties Win Approval to Form Government. The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
14. ↑ Multiple references:
* Montgomery, Jack (June 1, 2018). BRUSSELS BEATEN: Populist Coalition Takes Office in Italy, Eurosceptic Savona Returns as EU Affairs Minister. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
* D'Emilio, Frances (June 1, 2018). Populists take power in Italy, with euro-skeptic agenda. Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
* Jones, Gavin; Di Giorgio, Massimiliano (June 1, 2018). Italy's Conte sworn in as PM of anti-establishment government. Reuters. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
* Italy swears in first fully populist government. The Local. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
For a profile of the government's cabinet:
* Here is Italy's new cabinet in full. The Local. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
15. ↑ Balmer, Crispian (November 22, 2018). Italy's 5-Star struggles to keep up with soaring Salvini. Reuters. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
16. ↑ Multiple references:
* Speak, Clare (February 26, 2019). Right wing triumphs in Sardinia's local elections. The Local. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
* Scherer, Steve (February 25, 2019). Italian right wins Sardinia vote, 5-Star fades. Reuters. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
* Ellyatt, Holly (February 26, 2019). Italy's anti-establishment M5S could be headed for 'political disaster after regional collapse. CNBC. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
17. ↑ Multiple references:
* Ellyatt, Holly (May 9, 2019). 'There is a rift': Italy's leaders aren't even hiding their disagreements anymore. CNBC. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
* Follain, John (May 6, 2019). It Just Keeps Getting Uglier Between Italy's Populists. Bloomberg. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
* Albanese, Chiara (May 3, 2019). Italy Premier Drops Coalition Peacemaker Role as Chiefs Feud. Bloomberg. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
18. ↑ Tomlinson, Chris (May 30, 2019). Five Star Movement Leader Offers Resignation After Disastrous Election Result. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
See also:
* Tomlinson, Chris (May 31, 2019). Italy’s Left Leader Survives Leadership Vote After EU Election Defeat. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
19. ↑ Multiple references:
* Tomlinson, Chris (August 14, 2019). Five Stars May Face Split as Pro-Salvini Members Look Right. Breitbart News. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
* Tomlinson, Chris (December 15, 2019). Three Five Star Movement Senators Defect to Salvini’s League. Breitbart News. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
* Italy's coalition loses three senators in blow to already tiny majority. Reuters. December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
20. ↑ Multiple references:
* Sylvers, Eric (August 28, 2019). Italian Party Rivals Join Up to Form New Government. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
* Bernal, Rafael (August 28, 2019). Italy forms new coalition government. The Hill. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
* D'Emilio, Frances; Zampano, Giada (August 28, 2019). Italy’s Conte might be back at helm with Salvini shut out. Associated Press. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
* Barry, Colleen; Zampano, Giada (August 29, 2019). Italy’s bitter political foes unite in bid to foil Salvini. Associated Press. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
* Balmer, Crispian (August 29, 2019). New Italian coalition allies have mutual foe, but little else in common. Reuters. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
See also:
* Tomlinson, Chris (September 2, 2019). Italy: Proposed Leftist Coalition Faces Widespread Opposition. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
* Tomlinson, Chris (September 5, 2019). Fewer than One in Three Italians Happy with New Coalition. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
* Tomlinson, Chris (September 6, 2019). EU Establishment Praises Unpopular Leftist Italian Government. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
* Amante, Angelo (September 9, 2019). Factbox: Policy priorities of Italy's new coalition government. Reuters. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
* Tomlinson, Chris (September 12, 2019). Italians Prefer Salvini Coalition To New Leftist Govt. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
* Williams, Thomas D. (September 12, 2019). Poll: Italians Unhappy with New Leftist Government. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
21. ↑ Multiple references:
* With Salvini Gone, New M5S-Democrat Govt Invites Migrants to Land in Italy. Breitbart News (from the Associated Press). September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
* Balmer, Crispian (September 14, 2019). In break with past, Rome lets charity ship head to Italian port. Reuters. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
* Brito, Renata; D'Emilio, Frances (September 14, 2019). Italy: Rescue boat with 82 migrants can dock at Italian isle. Associated Press. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
* Neslen, Arthur (September 14, 2019). Italian welcome for 82 migrants marks ‘end of Salvini’s propaganda,’ says minister. Politico. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
* Legorano, Giovanni (September 14, 2019). Italy’s New Government Allows In Migrants, Testing Voters’ Tolerance. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
* Tondo, Lorenzo (September 14, 2019). Italy's new government says migrants can disembark from rescue boat. The Guardian. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
* Business as Usual: NGO Ship Allowed to Land Another 182 Migrants in Post-Salvini Italy. Breitbart News (from the Associated Press). September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
* Duke, Selwyn (October 23, 2019). Mamma Mia: Under New Gov’t, Italy Again Attracting Migrants and Becoming “Refugee Camp”. The New American. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
* Italy to let French NGO migrant ship dock after 11 days at sea. Reuters. October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
* Left-Wing Italian Govt Allows NGO Ship with 88 Migrants Aboard to Dock. Breitbart News (from the Associated Press). November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
* Tomlinson, Chris (January 14, 2020). Italy: Post-Salvini Left Govt Ups Migrant Allowance, 1,500 Sail from Libya in Four Days. Breitbart News. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
See also:
* Tomlinson, Chris (September 28, 2019). Migrants Set up Favela-Like Camp Steps Away from Roman Colosseum. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
* Tomlinson, Chris (October 14, 2019). Illegal Migrant Formerly Deported by Salvini Mocks Populist Leader. Breitbart News. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
* Williams, Thomas D. (October 15, 2019). Matteo Salvini Laments Immigrant Resurgence Under New Leftist Government. Breitbart News. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
* Ciociola, Andrea (October 15, 2019). Italy lets French migrant ship dock to anger of far right. Reuters. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
22. ↑ Sciorilli Borrelli, Silvia (September 18, 2019). Macron and Conte’s show of unity. Politico. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
23. ↑ Jones, Gavin (September 20, 2019). Italy's 5-Star backs local pact with PD, strengthening govt. Reuters. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
24. ↑ Tomlinson, Chris (September 28, 2019). Italian Democratic Party Push for Anyone Born on Italian Soil to Get ‘Birthright’ Citizenship. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
25. ↑ Tomlinson, Chris (November 1, 2019). Italian Unemployment Rises to Nearly 10 Per Cent Under Leftist Coalition. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
26. ↑ Budryk, Zack (November 6, 2019). Italy to require students to study climate change and sustainability. The Hill. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
27. ↑ Tennant, Michael (November 7, 2019). Italy to Mandate “Climate Change” Instruction for All Students. The New American. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
28. ↑ Tomlinson, Chris (December 21, 2019). Italian Leftist Govt to Give 400k Euros to Communists to Celebrate 100th Anniversary. Breitbart News. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
29. ↑ Legorano, Giovanni (March 1, 2018). Why Italian Elections Matter: A New Type of Populism Is Rising. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
30. ↑ Zampano, Giada (March 13, 2018). 5Star leader: Brussels has nothing to fear. Politico. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
31. ↑ Dettmer, Jamie (March 1, 2018). Italy’s Maverick Political Movement Starts to Grow Up, But at a Cost. Voice of America. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
32. ↑ Lyman, Eric J. (March 1, 2018). Anti-establishment Five-Star Movement set to upend Italian politics. The Washington Times. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
33. ↑ Clarke, Hilary (March 1, 2018). The maverick populists striking fear into Italy's mainstream parties. CNN. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
34. ↑ De La Baume, Maïa (September 6, 2019). EU’s Greens ready to discuss alliance with Italy’s 5Stars. Politico. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
35. ↑ David, Ariel (July 19, 2016). They’re Openly Hostile to Israel. So Why Did These Italian Politicians Just Pay a Visit?. Haaretz. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
36. ↑ Multiple references:
* Tomlinson, Chris (February 8, 2019). France Recalls Italian Ambassador as Row Between Two Countries Escalates. Breitbart News. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
* Irish, John; Rose, Michael (February 7, 2019). France recalls Italy ambassador after worst verbal onslaught 'since the war'. Reuters. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
37. ↑ Multiple references:
* Tomlinson, Chris (March 19, 2019). Salvini Pro-Family Congress Attendance Sparks Italy Coalition Conflict. Breitbart News. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
* Giuffrida, Angela (March 29, 2019). City of love? Christian right congress in Verona divides Italy. The Guardian. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
38. ↑ https://www.kaos.gr/2022/10/italys-m5s-leader-urges-against-new.html