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WORLD NEWS Thursday 23 March 2017

Italy’s anti-establishment 5-Stars pull ahead of Democrats

PAOLO SANTALUCIA 5-Star platform easily lo-
NICOLE WINFIELD cated on a typical political
Associated Press map, with its staunch envi-
ROME (AP) — Like else- ronmentalism living side-by-
where in Europe and in the side with its anti-euro, anti-
U.S., Italy has seen a rising bank ethos.
tide of anti-establishment “There is a myth to dispel,
sentiment — and an eclec- as very often we connect
tic grassroots movement is the 5-Star Movement voter
aiming for early elections to a less cultured elector-
and 40 percent of the ate with lower socio-de-
vote now that polls have mographic features,” said
placed it well ahead of the Gianluca Giansante, a po-
ruling but fractured Demo- litical science professor at
cratic Party. Rome’s Luiss university. “To-
Italians are increasing look- day, college professors, ar-
ing to comic Beppe Grillo’s chitects and teachers vote
5-Star Movement as a vi- the 5-Star Movement just as
able alternative to tradi- any other party.”
tional parties that have Grillo, known for his shock of
dominated politics for de- gray hair, has filled piazzas
cades, even though the around Italy with his pas-
group has suffered its share sionate diatribes against
of mistakes and scandal. Italy’s 5-Star Movement leader Beppe Grillo is photographed through a car window as he leaves the political establishment
“Do you think that the po- a hotel in Rome, Tuesday, March 21, 2017. The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement is riding the since the run-up to the 2013
litical categories of left wave of populist sentiment sweeping through Europe and the U.S., aiming for early elections now general election. He has
that polls for the first time have placed it well ahead of the ruling but fractured Democratic Party.
and right can still interpret (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP) tapped into Italian disgust
the desires and impulses, with the political class at
the passions and ideas of will forgive a few hiccups or tonio Mollica, a 58-year-old 5-Star voter, the move- a time of economic woes,
a young 20-something Eu- flat-out errors by the new- truck driver who attended ment’s appeal isn’t con- banking scandals and po-
ropean?” 5-Star lawmak- comers. a 5-Star rally last weekend fined to the working class litical lethargy.
er Alessandro Di Battista “Let’s give the 5-Star move- in Turin to protest the influ- electorate that was so cru- It ended up winning the
asked. “Absolutely not.” ment a chance and see ence of the banking estab- cial to Donald Trump’s vic- biggest share of the do-
Di Battista spoke to The As- if things in this country re- lishment on politics. tory in the U.S. or the Brexit mestic vote in the Cham-
sociated Press on the same ally do change,” said An- While Mollica is a typical vote in Britain. Nor is the ber of Deputies.q
day Italy’s Corriere della
Sera published a new poll Wilders: Dutch coalition talks ignore his 1.3M voters
showing the 5-Stars with
32.3 percent of the vote, MIKE CORDER ing with caretaker Health came second, but Rutte office, because Wilders
compared to 26.8 percent Associated Press Minister Edith Schippers, and the leader of the Chris- brought down Rutte’s first
for the ruling Democratic THE HAGUE, Netherlands who is holding talks this tian Democrats have ruled coalition in 2012 by refus-
Party. It was the widest (AP) — Anti-Islam lawmaker week about which parties out working with him. ing to approve a tough
margin the 5-Stars have Geert Wilders said Wednes- should be involved in dis- Both parties made clear austerity package. At the
enjoyed, thanks in part to day that political parties cussions to form the next before the March 15 vote time, Wilders wasn’t part
a recent splintering within discussing the makeup of government. Following last that they wouldn’t work of Rutte’s minority govern-
the Democrats. the next Dutch ruling co- week’s vote, at least four with Wilders, whose one- ment, but had agreed to
The poll, by the Ipsos insti- alition are shutting him out parties will have to join forc- page manifesto included support it on important
tute, counted 33.6 percent and sidelining 1.3 million es to command a majority pledges to de-Islamize the votes.
of Italians still undecided, people who voted for his in the 150-seat lower house Netherlands by barring im- Coalition talks will continue
and was conducted be- party in last week’s parlia- of Parliament. migration from Muslim na- Thursday with Schippers
fore a new controversy mentary elections. Two-term Prime Minister tions, shutting mosques and meeting Rutte and leaders
over Grillo’s choice for a “I regret it seriously,” Wilders Mark Rutte’s conservative banning Islam’s holy book of the Christian Democrats,
candidate for Genoa may- said. “It should not happen VVD party won the most the Quran. the social democratic D66
or. But analysts suggested and I think that many peo- seats and is expected to Rutte also had said he party and socialist Green
Italians are far more fed up ple will not understand it.” lead the next coalition. couldn’t trust Wilders to Left to discuss them forming
with the Democrats and Wilders spoke after meet- Wilders’ Party for Freedom take tough decisions in a Cabinet.q