Di Maio’s move comes after accusing five-star leader and former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte of undermining government efforts to support Ukraine and weakening Rome’s position within the EU. The split in the 5 Star Movement threatens to bring new instability to Draghi’s multi-party coalition. The 5-Star has become increasingly concerned about arms shipments from Italy to Ukraine, and there is widespread speculation that Conte is considering withdrawing the movement from the government in a bid to stem the tide of polls. The party issued a statement on Tuesday categorically denying this. “Today is a difficult decision I never imagined I would have to make, but today I and many other colleagues and friends are leaving the 5 Star Movement,” Di Maio, the same former 5 Star leader, said in an interview. Press. Di Maio, who has been at loggerheads with Conte for months, did not say how many 5-star lawmakers he would take with him, but said that as a result of the split, the party would no longer be the largest group in parliament. “From today we are starting a new path with people who have decided to look to the future,” he said, in an obvious suggestion for the name of his new parliamentary group, which according to political sources is likely to be Together for the Future. If the 5-Stars ended up leaving the government, they would not deprive Draghi of his majority, but the head of the European Central Bank would no longer be the leader of a “national unity” coalition, as he agreed to do last February. Even assuming Draghi decided to continue, other parties could follow the 5 Star out of government, which would trigger its collapse. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST The 5 Star Movement, which won the 2018 election with 33% of the vote, is now at less than half that level and is in complete confusion ahead of the next election scheduled for early next year. year. Di Maio harshly attacked his former party, calling it “irresponsible” for its position on the war in Ukraine and saying that “it put the government in a difficult position just to win a few points in the polls, without even succeeding.” ».
