The European elections for the Five Stars of Giuseppe Conte they turn into the worst political nightmare of the last ten years. While FdI remains firmly in command, the pentastellati are not only “torn to pieces” by Elly Schlein’s PD but are forced to defend themselves even from a reinvigorated Forza Italia and the League led by General Vannacci. The latest data gives us a Movement at around 10% of total preferences, the lowest figure since 2013.
An unprecedented political Caporetto for the M5S which is unable to stop a showdownthe rather harsh interior. Once the first exit polls materialised, the criticisms were not long in coming. “We are now minority members of the Democratic Party to all effects”jokes a member of the Pentastellato filmed by Corriere della Sera. A poisonous joke that doesn’t stray far from the new image of our local centre-left. Referring to the Democratic Party, some stars blurt out: “So – they say – they will bite us”. Others directly attack the former people’s lawyer: “They will finally understand the mistakes – they say – and perhaps they will listen to us”.
And in fact an opening to dialogue and reflection comes from the Conte himself, in his nocturnal press conference. “We could have done better”, admits the five-star leader. And he adds:“We’ll do one internal reflection on the reasons for the result which is not what we expected, but I assure you that our MEPs will be absolutely consistent with the commitments announced during the election campaign“. A mea culpa which is a prelude to a “increasingly intense dialogue” with the other opposition forces. No way. The so-called Malpancisti Grillini exploit the Movement’s debacle to politically bite Conte. The choices dictated by the former prime minister have not worked and there are starting to be too many question marks. “Why not nominate Fico, Taverna and Raggi”they ask themselves from the Movement. “Conte got what he deserves”others add mischievously.
Yet another round of accusations has begun that aims to unload the leader but, as often happens, the political shortcomings that led to the defeat are forgotten. The data gives us a Movement which, in addition to struggling in the North – as is now tradition -, is abandoned by them Southern voters, historically closer to the five-star instances. The collapse occurred in Noon and in Islands it is a wake-up call which however is cleverly hidden.
Abstentionism in the South, claims the vice president of the Senate at the 5-star level, Mariolina Castellone, it’s the center-right executive’s fault. And the paradox worked: “If I were in the government – he claims as a guest on Porta a Porta – I would ask myself a question”. Another way, yet another, to hide the dust under the carpet.
