Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register ROME, June 19 (Reuters) – Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Sunday accused his own 5-Star Movement of undermining government efforts to support Ukraine and weakening Rome’s position in the European Union. His outburst could signal an impending rift in the once-leading team, with 5-star officials meeting later Sunday to consider Di Maio’s position following other recent developments. The squabble also raises concerns for Prime Minister Mario Draghi as he faces a major vote in parliament on Tuesday on Ukraine, with some 5-star members trying to curb Italy from sending more weapons to Kyiv. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Italy, like many EU countries, is sending weapons to Ukraine to help it counter the Russian attack. In a statement, Di Maio said the government should defend the values of democracy and freedom, adding that while everyone wanted peace, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought war. In this context, he said that his 5 Star leaders are attacking with “hatred” and causing problems in the government with its European partners. “(It is) an immature attitude that tends to create tensions and instability within the government,” he added. There was no immediate comment from the 5-star leader, former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Earlier Sunday, one of Conte’s supporters, Ricardo Ricciardi, said Di Maio had turned his political family around and would have to face the consequences. The 5-Star is the largest political force in parliament after winning 33% of the vote in the 2018 national elections. However, its fortune has suffered since then, as it lost its opposition identity while in government. Recent polls put him at around 13% and he won just 3% of the vote in local elections last weekend. Di Maio blamed Conte for the clash, while the latter said the 5 Star was paying a price for being in Draghi’s broad coalition. Party officials said he was fired because the 5-star leadership had said it would impose an old rule that its members could not be re-elected after two consecutive terms in parliament – a move that would prevent Di Mayo from running. next time around. If Di Maio leaves the party, a group of supporters could follow him and form a breakaway party within parliament, bringing new unrest to Draghi’s administration. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Crispian Balmer. Edited by David Holmes Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
