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Five Star Movement: saviours of democracy?

Although thriving on the anti-establishment fervour across Italy and Europe, the prospect of a M5S government in Italy could be an unexpected impulse for democracy in the EU.

By Enea Desideri
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Five Star Movement leader, Beppe Grillo. Demotix/eidon photographers. Some rights reserved.

First it was Brexit, then Trump, now Italy. The winds of change blowing around the world, fuelled by people’s discomfort with the status quo, have claimed yet another illustrious victim. Matteo Renzi, the young Italian (ex-)Prime Minister once seemingly unstoppable, has finally fallen.

His resignation, in the absence of a strong government or a clear electoral law to hold new elections under, leaves the boot-shaped country in a tricky situation. And yet, for many of Renzi’s opponents, the present times offer an occasion not to be missed.

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0