Italy’s 5 Star Movement to make leap from Euroscepticism to Eurofederalism? #5SM

Leader of Italy’s ‘5 Star Movement’ (5SM) maverick-politician and former stand-up comedian Beppe Grillo is looking at the possibility of his party leaving the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group, led by Nigel Farage, and joining the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), led by Guy Verhofstadt, writes Catherine Feore.

Grillo’s actions bring to mind the Groucho Marx quote: "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...well, I have others." But it would also be fair to say that the Five Star Movement was always an awkward fit with UKIP and other EFDD fellow travellers. While Five Star is anti-euro, it is not calling for Italy to leave the EU. On the other hand, moving from one of the most Eurosceptic groups and joining one of the most Europhile ones is quite a leap.

Commenting on the possibility of the Beppe Grillo’s 5 Star movement joining the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, Patrizia Toia, head of the Italian delegation to the S&D Group, said: "The manoeuvre currently ongoing between the 5 Star Movement and ALDE to build an alliance in the European Parliament is not an edifying sight. Beppe Grillo, after forging an alliance with Nigel Farage, now wants to move from the Eurosceptics to the Federalists, forcing voters to the humiliating ritual of a fake online election that only serves to affirm the arbitrary choices of their "leader".

“For his part, Guy Verhofstadt, running for president of the European Parliament, negotiator for Brexit and enemy number one of the Eurosceptic Farage, now does not exclude an alliance with the 5 Star Movement, which was rejected on the grounds of decency from political groups such as the Greens.”

EFDD: Down, but not quite out

In order to form a political group in the European Parliament and acquire benefits, both monetary and procedural, MEPs have to put together a coalition that includes a minimum of 25 MEPs, elected from at least one quarter (currently seven) of the EU's Member States. The EFDD current has 44 MEPs, from eight countries. A 5SM departure would mean that the EFDD would be left with 27 MEPs (NB. This article previously read 17 MEPs, this was an error, 17 is the number of 5SM MEPs) from seven countries. Not quite a fatal blow, but very close.

The EFDD is a motley crew. It includes a disaffected French Front National MEP, Joëlle Bergeron, an Alternative für Deutschland MEP Beatrix von Storch (CORRECTION: originally wrote 'only' MEP from Alternative für Deutschland, this is incorrect, Janice Atkinson MEP (ENF) informs us that Marcus Pretzell is also an Alternative für Deutschland MEP, but belongs to the Europe of Nations and Freedom group - yes, confusing! - I have asked for an explanation) and a Polish Korwin MEP, Robert Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. The eponymous leader of the Korwin party, Janusz Korwin-Mikke, is not in the group and is a controversial character who has been fined by the parliament for using racist language.

Thanks to Janice Atkinson MEP (ENF) for alerting us to errors.

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