Italy’s New Political Power Just Says ‘No’
Five-Star Movement leader and comedian, Beppe Grillo, gestures during a rally in Turin before the election. (Photo: REUTERS/Giorgio Perottino)
Italy’s election results have produced a political gridlock that scares Europe and global investors.
But also a winner: The anti-establishment “Five Star Movement” led by former comedian, Beppe Grillo.
The movement now holds about 25 percent of the seats in Italy’s new parliament, more than any other single party.
One of the group’s citizen activists, Stefano Ambrosi, speaking from Rome Tuesday, said the movement would not collaborate with any of the old political parties.
“They’re dead and they don’t even know it,” he adds.
The Five-Star movement also rejects the program of budget cuts and tax hikes that’s kept Italy economically afloat for the past year and a half.
“Basically,” says Ambrosi, “we’re just going to be in opposition to everything.”