Five Star Movement

{{short description|Italian political party}} {{EngvarB|date=February 2023}} {{use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox political party | name = Five Star Movement | native_name = Movimento Cinque Stelle | logo = M5S logo 2050.svg | logo_size = 175 | colorcode = {{Political party data|color}} | abbreviation = M5S | leader1_title = President | leader1_name = Giuseppe Conte | founders = Beppe Grillo {{nowrap|Gianroberto Casaleggio}} | foundation = {{start date and age|2009|10|4|df=y}} | headquarters = Via Campo Marzio 46, Rome | newspaper = ''Il Blog di Beppe Grillo'' (2009–2018) ''Il Blog delle Stelle'' (2018–2021) | membership_year = 2024 | membership = {{increase}} 170,000<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/24_marzo_24/m5s-piu-iscritti-pd-ma-tessera-gratis-tre-4-sono-uomini-4e0732aa-ea16-11ee-919a-5276ae33aa1b.shtml | title=M5S, più iscritti del Pd. Ma la tessera è gratis e tre su 4 sono uomini | date=24 March 2024 }}</ref> | ideology =  {{ubl|class=nowrap| | Populism | Green politics }} | position = Left-wing{{cref|A}} | european = Five Star Direct Democracy (2019) | europarl = EFDD (2014–2019) Non-Inscrits (2019–2024) The Left (since 2024) | colors = {{color box|{{Political party data|color}}|border=darkgray}} Yellow  | seats1_title = Chamber of Deputies | seats1 = {{composition bar|48|400|{{Political party data|color}}}} | seats2_title = Senate | seats2 = {{composition bar|26|205|{{Political party data|color}}}} | seats3_title = European Parliament | seats3 = {{composition bar|8|76|{{Political party data|color}}}} | seats4_title = Regional Councils | seats4 = {{composition bar|52|896|{{Political party data|color}}}} | seats5_title = Conference of Regions | seats5 = {{composition bar|2|21|{{Political party data|color}}}} | website = {{Political party data|website}} | country = Italy | footnotes = {{cnote|A|The M5S has been described in news sources as both far-left<ref>{{bulleted list |{{cite web|title=Protest Vote in Italy Could Throw Up Big Surprise|url=https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2013/02/19/protest-vote-in-italy-could-throw-up-big-surprise.html|website=CNBC|date=19 February 2013}}|{{cite web|title=As European elections approach, will the anti-EU surge?|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eurozone-summit-elections/as-european-elections-approach-will-the-anti-eu-surge-idUSBREA1C17Z20140213/|website=Reuters|date=13 February 2014}}|{{cite news|title=Italy First? Steve Bannon and Silvio Berlusconi Back Far-right Extremists Who Could Win Elections|url=https://www.newsweek.com/italy-first-steve-bannon-and-silvio-berlusconi-back-far-right-extremists-who-826530|newspaper=Newsweek|date=2 March 2018}}|{{cite news|title=First Brexit, now Italy – the EU power balance is shifting|url=https://www.cityam.com/286265-first-brexit-now-italy-eu-power-balance-shifting/|newspaper=City A.M.|date=23 May 2018}}|{{cite news|title=Rome’s new finance minister wants to sell China Italy’s debt|url=https://asiatimes.com/2018/07/romes-new-finance-minister-wants-to-sell-china-italys-debt/#|newspaper=Asia Times|date=20 July 2018}}|{{cite news|title=Italy abolishes child vaccination law|url=https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20180814/1425410/1|newspaper=The Dong-A Ilbo|date=14 August 2018}}|{{cite web|title=Italy Risk Returns: Budget Debate Sparks Concern as Yields Spike, Stocks Tumble|url=https://www.thestreet.com/markets/italy-risk-returns-budget-debate-sparks-concern-as-yields-spike-stocks-tumble-14725403|website=The Street|date=27 September 2018}}|{{cite web|title=Italy’s Threat to the Euro|url=https://www.aei.org/articles/italys-threat-to-the-euro/|website=American Enterprise Institute|date=18 November 2018}}|{{cite news|title=Global Economic Brief: Germany, Italy at the Crossroads|url=https://deloitte.wsj.com/cfo/global-economic-brief-germany-italy-at-the-crossroads-01567558929|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=4 September 2019}}}}</ref> and far-right,<ref>{{bulleted list |{{cite news|title=These six elections are set to change Europe forever|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/italian-referendum-french-presidential-election-german-election-european-union-europe-euro-change-forever-a7449266.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=1 December 2016}}|{{cite news|title=Political revolution likely in Europe in 2017|url=https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/7873-political-revolution-likely-europe-2017|newspaper=The Sunday Guardian|date=31 December 2016}}|{{cite news|title=Meeting between Russian officials and the Five Star Movement: a Russia politician explains|url=https://www.lastampa.it/esteri/la-stampa-in-english/2017/11/09/news/meeting-between-russian-officials-and-the-five-star-movement-a-russia-politician-explains-1.34382029/|newspaper=La Stampa|date=9 November 2017}}|{{cite news|title=Europe's Far Right Is Flourishing—Just Ask Viktor Orbán, Hungary's Prime Minister|url=https://www.newsweek.com/2018/03/30/europe-far-right-flourishing-hungary-viktor-orban-851184.html|newspaper=Newsweek|date=20 March 2018}}|{{cite web|title=New elections for Italy during political chaos|url=https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/sabina-castle-franco-new-elections-for-italy/|website=Newstalk ZB|date=29 May 2018}}|{{cite news|title=By blocking them and punishing those who aid them, Europe is drowning in migrants' blood|url=https://www.newarab.com/opinion/fortress-europe-drowning-refugee-and-migrant-blood|newspaper=The New Arab|date=12 August 2019}}}}</ref> despite its rejection of the traditional left–right divide.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tronconi|first=Filippo|title=Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement|url=https://www.google.it/books/edition/Beppe_Grillo_s_Five_Star_Movement/Xb-1CwAAQBAJ?hl=it&gbpv=1&dq=the+5+stars+movement+is+not+fascist&pg=PA196&printsec=frontcover|year=2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781317175155|page=196}}</ref> Under Conte's leadership, the M5S started to identify itself as "progressive", but still alternative to the left-right schema.<ref>{{cite news|title=Conte, il piano da Bruxelles: «M5S progressista, siamo alternativi allo schema destra-sinistra»|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/24_dicembre_10/conte-il-piano-da-bruxelles-m5s-progressista-siamo-alternativi-allo-schema-destra-sinistra-edb86eb9-e871-4f5f-8b20-3b90e3735xlk.shtml|newspaper=Il Corriere della Sera|date=10 December 2024}}</ref> However, some observers have noted its shift from a catch-all towards a left-wing stance.<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite web|title=Where is Italy's Five Star Movement headed?|url=https://www.dw.com/en/where-is-italys-populist-five-star-movement-headed/a-62494515|website=Deutsche Welle|date=16 July 2022}}|{{cite news|title=Il M5S si sta buttando a sinistra?|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2022/09/02/m5s-sinistra/|newspaper=Il Post|date=2 September 2022}}|{{cite news|title=Italy’s oddest political party is splitting|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/11/14/italys-oddest-political-party-is-splitting|newspaper=The Economist|date=14 November 2024}}|{{Cite web |title=The Guardian view on Italy’s divided opposition: a Five Star revolution can help unite the left |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/01/the-guardian-view-on-italys-divided-opposition-a-five-star-revolution-can-help-unite-the-left |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Guardian |date=1 December 2024 |language=en}}}}</ref>}} }}

The '''Five Star Movement''' ({{langx|it|Movimento 5 Stelle}} {{IPA|it|moviˈmento ˈtʃiŋkwe ˈstelle|}}, '''M5S''') is a political party in Italy, led by Giuseppe Conte.<ref>[https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/in-edicola/articoli/2021/08/06/conte-diventa-leader-gia-40-mila-voti-dagli-iscritti/6284614/ Conte diventa leader: già 40 mila voti dagli iscritti], ''Il Fatto Quotidiano''</ref> It was launched on 4 October 2009 by Beppe Grillo, a political activist and comedian, and Gianroberto Casaleggio, a web strategist.<ref>{{cite news|title=Notizie in due minuti|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/ottobre/05/NOTIZIE_DUE_MINUTI_co_9_091005092.shtml|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|access-date=27 May 2012|page=64|date=5 October 2009}}</ref> The M5S is primarily described as populist<ref name="pop1">{{cite book|last=Rowinski|first=Paul|chapter=Euroscepticism in the Berlusconi and Murdoch Press|editor=Alec Charles|title=Media/Democracy: A Comparative Study|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_cowBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA77|year=2013|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-4438-5008-7|page=77}}</ref><ref name="pop2">{{cite book|last=Foot|first=John|title=Modern Italy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evwcBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA226|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129103726/https://books.google.com/books?id=evwcBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA226|archive-date=29 January 2016|year=2014|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-137-04192-0|pages=223–226}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Gauja|editor-first1=Anika|editor-last2=Van Haute|editor-first2=Emilie|chapter=List of party names and abbreviations|title=Party Members and Activists|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XGChCAAAQBAJ&pg=PR18|year=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-52432-8|page=18}}</ref> of the syncretic kind,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Caruso |first=Loris |date=2017 |title=Digital Capitalism and the End of Politics: The Case of the Italian Five Star Movement |journal=Politics & Society |volume=45 |issue=4 |pages=585–609 |doi=10.1177/0032329217735841 |s2cid=158156480 |via=SAGE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mercea |first1=Dan |last2=Mosca |first2=Lorenzo |date=2021 |title=Understanding movement parties through their communication |journal=Information, Communication & Society |volume=24 |issue=10 |page=1332 |doi=10.1080/1369118X.2021.1942514 |hdl=2434/903207 |s2cid=236144873 |via=Taylor & Francis|hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Downes |first=James |date=19 February 2020 |title='Syncretic' Populism in Contemporary 21st Century European Politics |work=Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right |url=https://www.radicalrightanalysis.com/2020/02/19/syncretic-populism-in-contemporary-21st-century-european-politics/ |access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref> due to its long-time indifference to the left–right political spectrum,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barberis |first=Mauro |date=21 October 2019 |title=M5S, l'ambiguità destra/sinistra è scritta nel suo Dna. Un libro-testimonianza spiega perché |language=it |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2019/10/21/m5s-lambiguita-destra-sinistra-e-scritta-nel-suo-dna-un-libro-testimonianza-spiega-perche/5524255/ |access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cuzzocrea |first=Annalisa |date=14 April 2021 |title=La Carta del M5S di Conte: "Né destra né sinistra" |language=it |work=La Repubblica |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/04/14/news/il_movimento_5_stelle_di_conte_ne_destra_ne_sinistra_-301055223/ |access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref> although it has also been variously considered as left-wing<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite book|last=Melchior|first=Sigrid|title=A Reporter's Guide to the EU|url=https://www.google.it/books/edition/A_Reporter_s_Guide_to_the_EU/CislDwAAQBAJ?hl=it&gbpv=1&dq=%22left-wing+populist+five+star+movement%22&pg=PA63&printsec=frontcover|year=2017|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781317192824|page=63}}|{{cite news|title=Far-Right Leader Thanks Facebook for Strong Election Results in Italy|url=https://www.newsweek.com/far-right-leader-thanks-facebook-strong-election-results-italy-831023|newspaper=Newsweek|date=5 March 2018}}|{{cite news|title=European stocks rally on hopes of new Italian coalition: as it happened|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/08/27/markets-live-latest-news-pound-euro-ftse-100-g7-summit-breathes/|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=27 August 2019}}|{{cite news|title=Is the far right on the ropes in Europe?|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1564191|newspaper=Arab News|date=4 October 2019}}|{{cite web|title=Europe's far Right Has Stalled|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2019-12-31/europe-s-far-right-nationalist-movements-have-stalled|website=Bloomberg|date=31 December 2019}}|{{cite web|title=Italy's government plunged into crisis after junior coalition partner quits|url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/01/13/italy-s-government-close-to-collapse-amid-row-over-covid-recovery-cash|website=Euronews|date=13 January 2021}}|{{cite journal |last=Varriale |first=Amedeo |date=8 June 2021 |title=Institutionalized Populism: The 'Strange Case' of the Italian Five Star Movement |url=https://www.populismstudies.org/institutionalized-populism-the-strange-case-of-the-italian-five-star-movement/ |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=Populism Studies |publisher=European Center for Populism Studies |doi=10.55271/op0009|url-access=subscription}}|{{cite web|title=Italy's PM Conte survives to face confidence test in Senate|url=https://www.dw.com/en/italys-pm-conte-survives-to-face-confidence-test-in-senate/a-56259338|website=DW|date=18 January 2021}}|{{cite book|last=Reckwitz|first=Andreas|title=The End of Illusions: Politics, Economy, and Culture in Late Modernity|url=https://www.google.it/books/edition/The_End_of_Illusions/TcM1EAAAQBAJ?hl=it&gbpv=1&dq=%22left-wing+populist+five+star+movement%22&pg=PT100&printsec=frontcover|year=2021|publisher=Polity Press|isbn=9781509545711}}|{{cite book|last=Filip|first=Alexandru|title=Eurosceptic Contagion: The Influence of Eurosceptic Parties in West-European Party Systems|url=https://www.google.it/books/edition/Eurosceptic_Contagion/Z_QkEAAAQBAJ?hl=it&gbpv=1&dq=%22left-wing+populist+five+star+movement%22&pg=PA167&printsec=frontcover|year=2021|publisher=Springer International Publishing|isbn=9783030690366|page=167}}|{{cite book|last=Hodson|first=Dermot|title=Circle of Stars: A History of the EU and the People Who Made It|url=https://www.google.it/books/edition/Circle_of_Stars/CwDcEAAAQBAJ?hl=it&gbpv=1&dq=%22left-wing+populist+five+star+movement%22&pg=PA74&printsec=frontcover|year=2023|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=9780300275070|page=74}}}}</ref> or right-wing populist.<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite news|title=Nigel Farage on Being Called an 'Anti-Semite,' Putin 'Being a Questionable Human Being,' and His Anti-EU Allies|url=https://www.newsweek.com/2018/05/18/nigel-farage-brexit-anti-eu-putin-916172.html|newspaper=Newsweek|date=10 May 2018}}|{{cite book|last=Manni|first=Franco|chapter=The Unfulfilled Promises of the Italian 1968 Protest Movement|title=The Double Binds of Neoliberalism: Theory and Culture After 1968|url=https://www.google.it/books/edition/The_Double_Binds_of_Neoliberalism/7zdwEAAAQBAJ?hl=it&gbpv=1&dq=%22right-wing+populist+five+star+movement%22&pg=PA89&printsec=frontcover|year=2022|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=9781538154540|page=89}}|{{cite book|last=Butler|first=Nick|title= The Trouble with Jokes: Humour and Offensiveness in Contemporary Culture and Politics|url=https://www.google.it/books/edition/The_Trouble_with_Jokes/zoLkEAAAQBAJ?hl=it&gbpv=1&dq=%22right-wing+populist+five+star+movement%22&pg=PA76&printsec=frontcover|year=2023|publisher=Bristol University Press|isbn=9781529232530|page=76}}}}</ref> The party has been a proponent of green politics<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Mitra |title=Who Owns the Environment: The state of Green party politics around the world |url=https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/publication/documents/2019-03/20190226-greenpartypolitics-web.pdf |publisher=Ipsos |access-date=28 December 2022 |page=7 |date=March 2019}}</ref> and direct democracy;<ref name="Casaleggio 2018"/> since 2022, it has started a shift toward the political left<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last1=Nencioni |first1=Tommaso |title=The Five Star Movement Turns to the Left, Belatedly |url=https://jacobin.com/2025/02/five-star-movement-migration-italy |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Jacobin |date=9 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref> and also espoused social-democratic and progressive policies.<ref name="Mulino">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Verso un M5S a trazione socialdemocratica? |url=https://www.rivistailmulino.it/a/verso-un-m5s-a-trazione-socialdemocratica |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=www.rivistailmulino.it |language=it}}</ref> Furthermore, following an online vote held in November 2024, party members themselves decided to identify as "independent progressives".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2024/11/25/news/m5s_conte_garante_grillo_mandato-423716728 | title=I Cinquestelle licenziano Grillo, vince Conte: Sporchiamoci le mani | date=25 November 2024 }}</ref>

In the 2013 general election, the M5S obtained 25.6% of the vote,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2013/03/01/risultato-elezioni-2013-con-i-voti-degli-italiani-allestero-il-pd_n_2788002.html|title=Risultato elezioni 2013: con i voti degli italiani all'estero il Pd è il primo partito alla Camera|work=The Huffington Post|date=21 March 2013|access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref> but rejected a proposed coalition government with the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and joined the opposition.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Garzia|first=Diego|date=1 September 2013|title=The 2013 Italian Parliamentary Election: Changing Things So Everything Stays the Same|url=http://diana-n.iue.it:8080/bitstream/handle/1814/29550/Garzia%202013%20West%20European%20Politics.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y|journal=West European Politics|volume=36|issue=5|pages=1095–1105|doi=10.1080/01402382.2013.815483|hdl=1814/29550|s2cid=154348528|issn=0140-2382|archive-date=21 February 2022|access-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221222525/http://diana-n.iue.it:8080/bitstream/handle/1814/29550/Garzia%202013%20West%20European%20Politics.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=23 November 2013|title='The Italian General Election of 2013' – A free e-book collecting CISE analyses|url=https://cise.luiss.it/cise/2013/11/24/the-italian-general-election-of-2013-a-freely-available-e-book-collecting-cise-analyses/|access-date=21 February 2022|website=Italian Center for Electoral Studies}}</ref> In 2016 M5S' Chiara Appendino and Virginia Raggi were elected mayors of Turin and Rome, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/19/rome-likely-to-have-elected-its-first-female-mayor|title=Anti-establishment candidates elected to lead Rome and Turin|last=Scamell|first=Rosie|work=The Guardian|date=20 June 2016|access-date=20 June 2016}}</ref> The M5S supported the successful "no" vote in the 2016 constitutional referendum.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=John|first=Tara|date=1 December 2016|url=https://time.com/4584639/italy-referendum-2016-matteo-renzi/|title=What to Know About Italy's Constitutional Referendum|magazine=Time|access-date=9 February 2022}}</ref> In the 2018 general election, the M5S, led by Luigi Di Maio, became the largest party with 32.7%<ref>{{cite news|last1=Foster|first1=Peter|last2=Squires|first2=Nick|title=Populist Five Star Movement wins largest share of vote in Italian election, exit poll indicates|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/04/populist-five-star-movement-wins-largest-share-vote-italian/|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/04/populist-five-star-movement-wins-largest-share-vote-italian/|archive-date=12 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|work=The Telegraph|date=4 March 2018|access-date=21 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Populists close in on power in Italy|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44066711|access-date=6 September 2019|publisher=BBC|date=10 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bremmer|first=Ian|date=18 May 2018|url=https://time.com/5280993/m5s-lega-italy-populist-coalition/|title=Five Things to Know About Italy's Populist Coalition Government|magazine=Time|access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref> and successfully formed a government headed by M5S-backed independent Giuseppe Conte together with the League. After the 2019 government collapsed, the party formed a new government with the PD, with Conte remaining prime minister until the 2021 government crisis, which resulted in the formation of the Draghi government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.it/20190902/how-the-rebel-five-star-movement-joined-italy-establishment/|title=Analysis: How the rebel Five Star Movement joined Italy's establishment|website=The Local|date=2 September 2019|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="Downes & Palma 2020">{{cite web|last1=Downes|first1=James F.|last2=Palma|first2=Nicola|date=6 July 2020|title=Ideological Ambiguity, Issue Blurring & Party Dissent: The Electoral Decline of the Populist Italian Five Star Movement|url=https://www.radicalrightanalysis.com/2020/07/06/ideological-ambiguity-issue-blurring-party-dissent-the-electoral-decline-of-the-populist-italian-five-star-movement|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127024336/https://www.radicalrightanalysis.com/2020/07/06/ideological-ambiguity-issue-blurring-party-dissent-the-electoral-decline-of-the-populist-italian-five-star-movement/|archive-date=27 January 2022|access-date=10 July 2021|publisher=Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right}}</ref> Since 2019 the M5S has occasionally sided with the centre-left coalition in regional and local elections, but not yet in general elections. In the 2022 general election, the party suffered a substantial setback, was reduced to 15.4% and joined the opposition to the Meloni government.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pucciarelli|first=Matteo|date=26 October 2022|title=Grillo incontra i parlamentari del M5S: 'Spero che il governo duri a lungo' E sul reddito di cittadinanza: 'Va difeso a ogni costo'|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/10/26/news/conte_grillo_incontro_assemblea_m5s-371734220/|access-date=28 October 2022|work=La Repubblica|language=it}}</ref> In the 2024 Sardinian regional election, M5S' Alessandra Todde was elected president of Sardinia, the party's first regional president,<ref>{{cite web |last=Chiariello |first=Paolo |date=27 February 2024 |title=Alessandra Todde è la prima presidente donna della Regione Sardegna |url=https://www.fortuneita.com/2024/02/27/alessandra-todde-e-la-prima-presidente-donna-della-regione-sardegna/ |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=Fortune Italia |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=27 February 2024 |title=Regionali, Todde esulta: 'Sono la prima presidente donna della Sardegna' |url=https://www.ansa.it/sardegna/notizie/2024/02/27/regionali-todde-esulta-sono-la-prima-presidente-donna-della-sardegna_3e62127c-94b0-45ce-a568-249eb5d4f0c6.html |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=Agenzia ANSA |language=it}}</ref> at the head of a centre-left coalition.<ref>{{cite news |last=Giuffrida |first=Angela |date=27 February 2024 |title=Sardinia elects leftwing president, in blow to Giorgia Meloni |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/27/italy-sardinia-elects-leftwing-president-alessandra-todde |access-date=4 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

From the establishment of the association named Five Star Movement until 2021, Grillo formally served as president, his nephew Enrico Grillo as vice president and his accountant Enrico Maria Nadasi as secretary.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.it/2013/03/12/ecco-statuto-movimento-5stelle_n_2860351.html |title=M5s, ecco lo statuto del Movimento 5 stelle. L'atto costitutivo firmato a Cogoleto da Beppe Grillo, il nipote Enrico Grillo e il commercialista. Non compare il nome di Casaleggio |last=Bassi |first=Andrea |work=HuffPost |date=12 March 2013 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2018/01/12/m5s-di-maio-grillo-sempre-con-noi-garante-e-risorsa_48c18cf0-b714-446a-9fc9-b9403d9e943a.html|title=M5S: Di Maio, Grillo sempre con noi, garante e risorsa|date=12 January 2018|publisher=ANSA|language=it|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> In 2014 Grillo appointed a five-strong directory, composed of Di Maio, Alessandro Di Battista, Roberto Fico, Carla Ruocco and Carlo Sibilia,<ref>{{cite news|title=M5S supporters give thumbs up to Grillo directorate|url=http://www.ansa.it/english/news/2014/11/28/m5s-supporters-give-thumbs-up-to-grillo-directorate_36728cc6-397b-4138-b39e-971aa1ef521d.html|access-date=23 December 2019|publisher=ANSA|language=it|date=28 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mackenzie|first=James|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-grillo-idUSKCN0JD0J520141129|title='Tired' Grillo overhauls leadership of Italy's 5-Star Movement|publisher=Reuters|date=29 November 2014|access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref> which lasted only a few months as Grillo proclaimed himself the political head of the M5S.<ref>{{cite news|last=Perrone|first=Manuela|date=25 September 2016|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2016-09-25/svolta-grillo-sono-capo-politico-104900.shtml|title=Svolta di Grillo: 'Sono il capo politico'|work=Il Sole 24 Ore|language=it|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> Grillo was succeeded as political head by Di Maio, who won the 2017 leadership election with 82% of the vote, and was appointed guarantor instead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/09/23/news/rimini_grillo_canta_il_rock_sul_palco_di_rimini_fico_giu_dal_palco_anche_oggi-176268214/|title=M5s, Di Maio eletto candidato premier e nuovo capo politico. Ma alle primarie votano solo in 37 mila|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=23 September 2017|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/17_settembre_24/incoronazione-gelida-4a90d796-a0a0-11e7-bad7-1b467cbbafcc.shtml|title=Movimento 5 Stelle: l'incoronazione gelida. E Di Maio promette a tutti 'disciplina e onore'|first=Marco|last=Imarisio|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=23 September 2017|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> In the run-up of the 2018 general election, Grillo separated his own blog, which was used as the party's online newspaper, with the brand-new ''Blog delle Stelle''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ilpost.it/2018/01/23/blog-beppe-grillo-cambiato/|title=Il blog di Beppe Grillo è cambiato|work=Il Post|language=it|date=23 January 2018|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> After the 2021 leadership election, a new party statute was approved and Conte became the new president, while Grillo continued as guarantor.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cuzzocrea|first=Annalisa|date=6 August 2021|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/08/06/news/m5s_giuseppe_conte_eletto_presidente_chi_ci_sara_nella_nuova_squadra_al_comando-313217619/|title=M5S, Conte eletto presidente col 93% di sì: 'Ce la metterò tutta per non deludervi'. Con lui 5 vice. Ecco chi ci sarà nella sua squadra al comando'|work=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> The M5S has undergone several splits since its formation, including Alternative, Environment 2050 and Di Maio's Together for the Future,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italys-foreign-minister-di-maio-quits-5-star-movement-2022-06-21/|title=Italy Foreign Minister di Maio quits 5-Star to form new group|publisher=Reuters|date=21 June 2022|last1=Amante|first1=Angelo|last2=Jones|first2=Gavin|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref> as well as several individual members, notably including Di Battista.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/02/11/news/di_battista_lascia_i_5_stelle_l_annuncio_in_una_diretta_facebook-287151156 | title=Di Battista: "Lascio il M5s, non accetto un governo con questi partiti". Il Movimento a rischio scissione | date=11 February 2021 }}</ref> In late 2024 the party held a "constituent assembly", during which it was chiefly decided to remove the role of guarantor, thus sidelining Grillo,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2024/11/24/news/m5s_costituente_conte_grillo_voto_oggi-423711073 | title=M5S, abolito il garante e stop al limite dei due mandati. Grillo: "Da francescani a gesuiti" | date=24 November 2024 }}</ref> who challenged the decision,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2024/11/25/news/m5s_toninelli_grillo_partito-423725081 | title=M5S, Grillo fa ricorso: Nei prossimi giorni il nuovo voto sul garante. Conte: "Tenta il sabotaggio" | date=25 November 2024 }}</ref> but eventually lost.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2024/12/08/m5s-leliminazione-del-garante-confermata-con-l8056-dei-voti.-conte_001612e1-7ae1-4cf2-bf9c-ad5db6566b7d.html|title=Il voto conferma la strategia Conte, quasi 65% di sì per il nuovo M5s|website=Ansa.it|date=8 December 2024}}</ref>

From 2014 to 2017, the M5S was a member of the EFDD group in the European Parliament, along with the UK Independence Party and minor Eurosceptic parties. In January 2017, M5S members voted in favour of Grillo's proposal to join the ALDE Group, but the party was eventually refused<ref>{{cite news|date=9 January 2017|title=EU liberals refuse to unite with Italy Five Star Eurosceptics|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38558366|access-date=16 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/01/09/news/m5s_europarlamento_alde-155680742/|title=M5s, Parlamento Ue: salta il passaggio a eurogruppo Alde. Verhofstadt: 'Poche garanzie'|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=9 January 2017|access-date=18 April 2017}}</ref> and continued to sit among non-attached members, until joining The Left following the 2024 European Parliament election.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 July 2024 |title=Via libera dalla Sinistra Ue a ingresso del M5S nel gruppo |url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/mondo/sinistra-ue-ingresso-m5s_84316615-202402k.shtml |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=TGcom24 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/07/05/italys-five-star-movement-joins-the-left-in-the-eu-parliament-but-with-observer-status | title=Italy's Five Star Movement joins the Left but with observer status | date=5 July 2024 }}</ref>

==History== ===Meetups=== On 16 July 2005, Beppe Grillo suggested through his blog that supporters adopt social networks, such as Meetup, to communicate and coordinate local meetings. The first "40 Friends of Beppe Grillo" meetups began with the initial aim to "have fun, get together, share ideas and proposals for a better world, starting from one's own city, and discuss and develop my posts, if you believe them".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://temi.repubblica.it/micromega-online/grillini-in-movimento/?printpage=undefined |title=micromega - micromega-online » Grillini in movimento - Versione stampabile |work=la Repubblica |access-date=18 June 2013}}</ref> Meetups featured thematic working groups on topics entitled "technology and innovation", "press-communication", "ethical consumerism", "currency study", "no incinerators", and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2012-05-22/nelle-proposte-provocazioni-anche-063747.shtml?uuid=Ab8McLgF |title=L'economia secondo i grillini: provocazioni, ma c'è anche buon senso |publisher=Il Sole 24 ORE |date= 22 May 2012 |access-date=18 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forli24ore.it/news/cesena/0022390-grillini-propongono-ritorno-alla-terra |title=I grillini propongono il 'ritorno alla terra' |publisher=Forli24ore.it |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142236/http://www.forli24ore.it/news/cesena/0022390-grillini-propongono-ritorno-alla-terra }}</ref> From these beginnings, Grillo was asked to stand in the October 2005 centre-left coalition primaries for the selection of the prime ministerial candidate of The Union.<ref>{{cite web|author=(m.o.) |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2005/08/04/il-guru-per-lanciarsi-ha-scelto.022e.html |title=E il guru per lanciarsi ha scelto 'Meet Up' - La Repubblica |language=it |work=la Repubblica |date=4 August 2005 |access-date=18 June 2013}}</ref>

On three occasions (17 December 2005 in Turin, 26 March 2006 in Piacenza, and 16 to 18 June 2006 in Sorrento), the representatives of the Friends of Beppe Grillo meetups held national meetings with Grillo, where proposals regarding environmental issues such as the replacement of polluting incinerators with systems applying mechanical-biological waste treatment were discussed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2010/05/il_centro_di_riciclo_di_vedelago.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo – Nulla si crea, nulla si distrugge. Il centro di riciclo di Vedelago |website=Beppegrillo.it |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108044519/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2010/05/il_centro_di_riciclo_di_vedelago.html |archive-date=8 November 2012 }}</ref>

During the fourth national meeting held in Genoa on 3 February 2007, Grillo announced his desire to provide an autonomous space during his touring shows for local meetup activists.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ceri |first1=Paolo|last2=Veltri |first2=Francesca |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pP9cDwAAQBAJ&dq=m5s+raduno+genova+2007&pg=PA43 |title=Il Movimento nella rete: Storia e struttura del Movimento a 5 stelle |publisher=Lexis |year=2017 |isbn=978-88-7885-532-8 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pP9cDwAAQBAJ&dq=m5s+raduno+genova+2007&pg=PA43 43] |language=it}}</ref> On 14 July 2007, some civic list representatives who participated in local elections the previous spring met in Parma to establish a national coordination between associations, movements, and organisations. They met to practice promoting and experimenting with direct and participatory democracy, and to share a document of intent, which included the establishment of proposals, abrogative referendums, the direct election of the Ombudsman, the institution of participatory budgeting, a bound mandate for public administrators, and open primaries.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lanzone |first1=Maria Elisabetta|last2=Morini |first2=Mara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VRx9DwAAQBAJ |title=Parma: 5 anni a 5 stelle?: Pizzarotti, da Grillo a Effetto Parma |publisher=Edizioni Epoké |year=2018 |isbn=978-88-295-6126-1 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VRx9DwAAQBAJ&q=14+luglio+2007&pg=PT60 60] |language=it}}</ref>

===V-Days=== [[File:V-day bologna 02.jpg|thumb|220px|V-Day in Bologna, 2007]] On 14 June 2007, Grillo launched ''Vaffanculo Day'' (Fuck-off Day), or V-Day, in Bologna. V-Day was meant to mobilise the collection of signatures to submit a popular initiative seeking to introduce preferences in the current electoral law and to prevent parliamentary candidate nominations for the criminally convicted and those who have already completed two terms in office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2007/06/vaffanculoday.html |title= Vaffanculo-Day |website=Blog di Beppe Grillo |date=14 June 2007 |language=it|access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117171305/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2007/06/vaffanculoday.html |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref> The name V-Day was chosen to reflect four references. The first refers to the Normandy landings of the Allies in Normandy during World War II to symbolise how Italian citizens would invade bad policy. The second refers to the motion picture and graphic novel ''V for Vendetta'', which the M5S frequently relates with its principles of political renewal (the logo of the movement shares the use of a red ''V'' symbol with the franchise). The third refers to the interjection ''vaffanculo'' ("fuck you") directed at bad policy, while the fourth is a reference to the Roman numeral for five.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pelosini |first=Giovanni |date=2013 |title=Simboli delle Elezioni: MoVimento 5 Stelle |url=https://www.astrologiainlinea.it/Astro_Magazine/Articoli/astromagazine_dett_articolo.asp?ID=1197 |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=Astro Magazine |language=it}}</ref>

V-Day, which continued the "Clean Parliament" initiative promoted by Grillo since 2006, took place in many Italian cities on 8 September 2007 to evoke the state of confusion caused by the Badoglio Proclamation on 8 September 1943. On that day, 336,000 signatures were collected, far exceeding the 50,000 required to file a popular initiative law. For the occasion, Michele Serra coined the term ''grillismo''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2007/08/sezioni/cronaca/grillo-v-day/serra-commento/serra-commento.html?ref=search |title=La piazza di Grillo tra politica e populismo - cronaca |work=la Repubblica |access-date=18 June 2013}}</ref> V2-Day was organised for 25 April 2008, a second day of action aimed at collecting signatures for three referendums. On 29 and 30 September 2007 in Lucca, several members of the meetups and local civic lists, in the initial wake of the discussions started on the net and in the wake of the previous meeting of Perugia, defined the policies for the establishment of civic lists. On 10 October 2007, Grillo gave guidance on how to create the civic lists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2007/10/liste_civiche1.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Liste civiche/1 |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=14 October 2007 |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110035944/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2007/10/liste_civiche1.html |archive-date=10 November 2013 }}</ref>

===Five Star Civic Lists=== On 3 December 2008, Grillo presented the symbol of the Five Star Civic Lists for the 2009 local elections. The logo in the ''V'' of citizenship is a reference to V-Day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2008/12/liste_civiche_a.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Liste Civiche a Cinque Stelle |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=3 December 2008 |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117134445/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2008/12/liste_civiche_a.html |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref> On 17 February 2009 in Bologna, a gathering of civic lists discussed the future of the movement and the coming elections. In particular, Sonia Alfano consulted with the activist base of the movement about her possible candidacy for the European Parliament as an independent candidate with the Italy of Values (IdV) list. She became the first Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the M5S.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Puca |first=Carlo |date=24 June 2013 |title=Sì, sono io la sirena che corteggia i grillini |url=https://www.panorama.it/news/sonia-alfano-grillini-m5s-trattative-cinquestelle |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=Panorama |language=it}}</ref> On 8 March 2009, the first national meeting of the Five Star Civic Lists was held in Florence, where Grillo presented the Charter of Florence, a 12-point program of the various local civic lists in the afternoon. About twenty local groups presented their ideas and experiences. In April 2009, Grillo announced he had received a letter from Nobel Prize winner in economics Joseph Stiglitz in which he declared he would look carefully at the experience of local civic lists promoted through the blog.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2009/04/stiglitz_e_le_l.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Stiglitz e Le Liste Civiche |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=15 April 2009 |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227044700/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2009/04/stiglitz_e_le_l.html |archive-date=27 February 2013 }}</ref>

On 29 March 2009, Grillo announced that in the upcoming 2009 European Parliament election in Italy he would support Luigi de Magistris and Sonia Alfano (figures close to the movement) as independent candidates in the lists of IdV, together with the journalist Carlo Vulpio (also close to the movement).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2009/marzo/19/Magistris_politica_dico_addio_alla_co_9_090319025.shtml |title=De Magistris in politica: dico addio alla toga |work=Corriere della Sera |access-date=18 June 2013}}</ref> On 11 June, De Magistris and Alfano, candidates in all five constituencies, were elected to the European Parliament, resulting in the first and second preferences (of 419 000 and 143 000). In the same election, as stated by Grillo, 23 councillors were elected from the Five Star Civic Lists, especially in the municipalities of Emilia-Romagna in North Italy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2009/07/comunicato_poli_15.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Comunicato politico numero ventitre |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=4 July 2009 |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405120545/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2009/07/comunicato_poli_15.html |archive-date=5 April 2013 }}</ref>

On 9 September 2009, the launch of the National Five Star Movement (M5S), inspired by the ideologies of the Charter of Florence, was announced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2009/09/comunicato_politico_numero_venticinque.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Comunicato politico numero venticinque |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702055458/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2009/09/comunicato_politico_numero_venticinque.html |archive-date=2 July 2017 }}</ref> On 4 October 2009, Grillo, along with Gianroberto Casaleggio, Grillo declared the birth of the M5S and presented a programme at the Emerald Theatre in Milan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Casaleggio |first1=Gianroberto |title=Casaleggio: 'Ho scritto io le regole del Movimento 5 Stelle'|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/12_maggio_30/casaleggio-regole-mov-5-stelle_9e8eca9c-aa1a-11e1-8196-b3ccb09a7f99.shtml |access-date=23 December 2019 |work=Corriere della Sera |language=it}}</ref>

===2010–2012 regional and local elections=== During the 2010 Italian regional elections, the M5S obtained notable results in the five regions where it ran a candidate for president, as Giovanni Favia gained 7.0% of the vote in Emilia-Romagna (6.0% for the list, with two regional councillors elected); Davide Bono 4.1% in Piedmont (3.7%, two councillors); David Borrelli 3.2% in Veneto (2.6%, no councillors); Vito Crimi 3.0% in Lombardy (2.3%, no councillors); and Roberto Fico 1.3% in Campania (1.3%, no councillors).<ref>{{cite web |title=Dipartimento per gli affari esteri e territoriali {{!}} Regionali 28 March 2010 |url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=R&dtel=28/03/2010&tpa=I&tpe=A&lev0=0&levsut0=0&es0=S&ms=N |website=elezionistorico.interno.gov.it |publisher=Ministero degli Interni |access-date=6 September 2019 |language=it}}</ref>

In the 2011 Italian local elections on 15 and 16 May, the M5S was present in 75 of the 1,177 municipalities in the vote, including 18 of the 23 provincial capitals called to vote. In the first round, the M5S entered its representatives in 28 municipalities (for a total of 34 elected councillors) and often resulting in some important decisive ballots.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tonelli |first1=Matteo |title=Corsa ai ballottaggi, ecco chi deciderà Dal Terzo Polo agli astenuti. E i 5 Stelle... |url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2011/05/17/news/voti_decisivi-16385261/?ref=HREA-1 |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=La Repubblica |date=17 May 2011}}</ref> Its best results were in the cities and towns of the center-north, especially in Emilia-Romagna, where the list achieved a share of the vote of between 9% and 12% in Bologna, Rimini, and Ravenna), and Piedmont. In Southern Italy, it rarely obtained 2% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=G&dtel=15/05/2011&tpa=I&tpe=A&lev0=0&levsut0=0&es0=S&ms=N&ne1=0|title=Comunali 15/05/2011|website=Elezioni Storico|publisher=Intalian Ministry of the Interior|language=it|date=15 May 2022|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Beppe Grillo - Trento 2012 04.JPG|thumb|220px|Beppe Grillo in Trento during the 2013 electoral campaign]] In the 2011 Molise regional election on 16 and 17 October, the M5S had its own candidate for the presidency and its own list. The list received 2.27% of the votes and the presidential candidate garnered 5.60% of the vote, but the movement achieved no seats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali |url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=R&dtel=16/10/2011&tpa=I&tpe=R&lev0=0&levsut0=0&lev1=14&levsut1=1&ne1=14&es0=S&es1=S&ms=S |website=Elezioni Storico|publisher=Italian Ministry of the Interior|language=it |date=16 October 2011|access-date=23 December 2019}}</ref>

In the 2012 Italian local elections, the M5S did well in several cities of the Northern Italy, notably in Genoa (14.1%),<ref>{{cite web|title=Elezioni 2012, Amministrative|url=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/comunali/20120506000000_2_COMUNE_34_250.shtml|work=Corriere della Sera|date=May 2012|access-date=27 May 2012|language=it}}</ref> Verona (9.5%),<ref>{{cite web|date=May 2012|title=Elezioni 2012 Amministrative, Risultati Comune di Verona|url=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/comunali/20120506000000_2_COMUNE_89_900.shtml|work=Corriere della Sera|access-date=27 May 2012|language=it}}</ref> Parma (19.9%), Monza (10.2%),<ref>{{cite web|title=Elezioni Amministrative 2012, risultati comune di Monza|work=Corriere della Sera|url=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/comunali/20120506000000_2_COMUNE_104_330.shtml|date=May 2012|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> and Piacenza (10.0%).<ref>{{cite web|title=Elezioni Amministrative 2012, risultati comune di Piacenza|work=Corriere della Sera|url=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/comunali/20120506000000_2_COMUNE_61_320.shtml|date=May 2012|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> In the small Venetian town of Sarego, the M5S's candidate was elected mayor with 35.2% of the vote (there is no run-off in towns with less than 15,000 inhabitants).<ref>{{cite web|title=Elezioni Amministrative 2012, risultati comune di Sarego|work=Corriere della Sera|url=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/comunali/20120506000000_2_COMUNE_90_980.shtml|date=May 2012|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> In the run-offs, it won the mayorships of Parma (60.2%),<ref>{{cite web|title=Elezioni Amministrative 2012, risultati comune di Parma|work=Corriere della Sera|url=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/comunali/20120506000000_2_COMUNE_56_270.shtml|date=May 2012|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> Mira (52.5%),<ref>{{cite web|title=Elezioni Amministrative 2012, risultati comune di Mira|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|url=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/comunali/20120506000000_2_COMUNE_87_230.shtml|date=May 2012|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> and Comacchio (69.2%).<ref>{{cite web|title=Elezioni Amministrative 2012, risultati comune di Comacchio|work=Corriere della Sera|url=http://www.corriere.it/Speciali/Politica/2012/elezioni12/SEAS/amministrative/comunali/20120506000000_2_COMUNE_29_60.shtml}}</ref> After the election, the M5S consistently scored around 15–20% nationally in opinion polls, frequently ahead of the centre-right The People of Freedom (PdL) and second to the centre-left Democratic Party (PD).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.termometropolitico.it/sondaggi-politici-elettorali|url-status=live|title=Elezioni Politiche 2013|website=Termometro Politico|language=it|date=2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218093014/https://www.termometropolitico.it/sondaggi-politici-elettorali|archive-date=18 February 2016|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref>

In the 2012 Sicilian regional election on 28 October, the M5S fielded Giancarlo Cancelleri as candidate. The campaign kicked off with Grillo's arrival in Messina on 10 October swimming from the mainland.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21565254-sicily%E2%80%99s-vote-and-italy%E2%80%99s-future-tip-boot |title=Elections in Sicily: Tip of the boot |date=27 October 2012 |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=4 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/04/italian-political-blogger-sexism-row |title=Italian comedian turned politician in row over his 'medieval sexism' |last=Kington|first=Tom |date=4 November 2012 |work=The Observer |access-date=5 November 2012 |location=London}}</ref> In the election, Cancelleri came third with 18.2% of the vote, while the M5S was the most voted for party at 14.9%, obtaining 15 seats out of 90 in the Sicilian Regional Assembly in a very fragmented political landscape;<ref>{{cite news |title=Sicilia – Elezioni Regionali 28 ottobre 2012 |url=https://www.repubblica.it/static/speciale/2012/elezioni/regionali/sicilia.html#risultati |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=La Repubblica|language=it |date=30 October 2012}}</ref> however, the election was characterised by low participation as only 47.4% of eligible voters turned out to vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sicilys-first-gay-governor-opens-a-new-schism-between-italys-old-enemies-8262253.html |title=Sicily's first gay governor opens a new schism between Italy's old enemies|work= The Independent |access-date=5 November 2012 |location=London |first=Michael |last=Day |date=31 October 2012}}</ref>

===2013 general election=== {{further|2013 Italian general election}} On 29 October 2012, Grillo announced guidelines for candidates wishing to stand in the 2013 general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB2fBOKJupM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/cB2fBOKJupM |archive-date=20 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Passaparola – Comunicato Politico 53 – Elezioni politiche online – Beppe Grillo |website=YouTube |date=29 October 2012|access-date=30 October 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/bologna/notizie/politica/2012/30-ottobre-2012/politiche-grillo-esclude-big-perdenti-si-fanno-avanti-2112483540096.shtml|title=Politiche, Grillo esclude i big E i 'perdenti' si fanno avanti|work=Corriere di Bologna|language=it|date=30 October 2012|access-date=30 October 2012}}</ref> For the first time in Italy, the candidates were chosen by party members through an online primary, which took place 3 to 6 December.<ref>{{cite news |title=Movimento 5 Stelle, i dati ufficiali delle 'parlamentarie': hanno votato in 20.252 |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2012/12/18/movimento-5-stelle-dati-ufficiali-delle-parlamentarie-hanno-votato-in-20-252/450008/ |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=18 December 2012 |language=it-IT}}</ref> On 12 December 2012, Grillo expelled two leading members from the party (Giovanni Favia, regional councillor of Emilia-Romagna, and Federica Salsi, municipal councillor in Bologna) for breaking the party's rules. The former had talked about the lack of democracy within the party while the latter had taken part in a political talk show on Italian television, something that was discouraged and later forbidden by Grillo.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liuzzi |first1=Emiliano |title=Movimento 5 Stelle, Grillo caccia Giovanni Favia e Federica Salsi |url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2012/12/12/movimento-5-stelle-grillo-espelle-giovanni-favia-e-federica-salsi/443548/ |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=12 December 2012 |language=it-IT}}</ref>

On 22 February 2013, a large crowd of 800,000 people attended Grillo's final rally before the 2013 general election in Piazza San Giovanni in Rome.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frye |first1=Andrew |last2=Hertling |first2=James |title=Italians Vote With Berlusconi Challenging Monti Austerity |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-22/italian-election-campaign-ends-with-grillo-filling-roman-plaza.html |date=24 February 2013 |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=Bloomberg}}</ref> On 24 and 25 February 2013, the M5S contested all Italian constituencies; Grillo was listed as head of the coalition, although he was not an electoral candidate. The vote for M5S in the Chamber of Deputies reached 25.55% of the vote in Italy and 9.67% for overseas voters, a total of 8,784,499 votes, making it the second most voted-for list after the PD, which acquired 25.42% of the votes in Italy and 29.9% abroad, or 8,932,615 votes, electing 108 deputies. The M5S vote for the Senate of the Republic was 23.79% in Italy and 10% abroad, a total of 7,375,412 votes, second only to the PD, which garnered 8,674,893 votes, electing 54 senators. The party gained a higher share of the vote than was predicted by any of the opinion polls. The M5S won 25.6% of the vote for the Chamber of Deputies, more than any other single party; however, both the centre-left coalition (Italia. Bene Comune) dominated by the PD, and the PdL-led centre-right coalition, obtained more votes as coalitions. The M5S was the largest party in the Abruzzo, Marche, Liguria, Sicily, and Sardinia regions.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 February 2013|title=Dipartimento per gli Affari Interni e Territoriali {{!}} Camera 24 February 2013 |url=https://elezionistorico.interno.gov.it/index.php?tpel=C&dtel=24/02/2013&tpa=I&tpe=A&lev0=0&levsut0=0&es0=S&ms=S |website=Elezioni Storico |publisher=Italian Ministry of the Interior |access-date=6 September 2019 |language=it}}</ref>

On 21 March 2013, Luigi Di Maio was elected vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies with 173 votes. Aged 26, he was the youngest vice-president of the house to date.<ref>{{cite news|title=Camera: Ok a vicepresidenti, anche M5S in cabina regia|url=http://www.rainews24.rai.it/it/news.php?newsid=175997|agency=RaiNews24|date=21 March 2013|access-date=25 February 2014|archive-date=25 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325071750/http://www.rainews24.rai.it/it/news.php?newsid=175997|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Luigi Di Maio, il ventiseienne napoletano, nuovo vicepresidente della Camera|url=http://www.ilmattino.it/napoli/cronaca/luigi_di_maio_il_26enne_napoletano_nuovo_vicepresidente_della_camera/notizie/260095.shtml|author=Pino Neri|work=Il Mattino|date=22 March 2013|access-date=25 February 2014|archive-date=25 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225094514/http://www.ilmattino.it/napoli/cronaca/luigi_di_maio_il_26enne_napoletano_nuovo_vicepresidente_della_camera/notizie/260095.shtml}}</ref>

===2014 European Parliament election=== {{further|2014 European Parliament election in Italy}} Competing in its first European election, with a surge in popularity in February 2013,<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Day|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italian-election-surge-in-popularity-for-eurosceptic-protest-party-headed-by-standup-comedian-beppe-grillo-raises-fears-in-eu-8507197.html|title=Italian election: Surge in popularity for eurosceptic protest party headed by stand-up comedian Beppe Grillo raises fears in EU - Europe - World|work=The Independent|date=22 February 2013|access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref> the M5S won second place at the 2014 European Parliament election held on 26 May, receiving 21.15% of the vote and returning 17 MEP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elezioni.interno.it/europee/scrutini/20140525/EX0.htm |title=[Scrutini] Europee - Elezioni del 25 maggio 2014 - Ministero dell'Interno |publisher=Elezioni.interno.it |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-date=16 August 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140816115220/http://elezioni.interno.it/europee/scrutini/20140525/EX0.htm }}</ref>

[[File:Beppe Grillo in piazza san giovanni in laterano 23 maggio 2014 2.JPG|thumb|320x214px|Grillo addressing the crowd in Rome, 2014]] In the run-up to the Eighth European Parliament term, the M5S lacked a European affiliation and sought a European parliament group. Initial negotiations were held with Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) co-president Nigel Farage and The Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-grillo-farage-idUKKBN0E81N320140528 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129103728/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-grillo-farage-idUKKBN0E81N320140528 |archive-date=29 January 2016 |title=UKIP's Farage meets Italy's five-Star leader Grillo in Brussels |work=Reuters |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Post EU Elections |url=http://euobserver.com/tickers/124489 |title=EUobserver / Five Star movement leader seeks to join EP Green group |work=EUobserver |date=4 June 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> On 4 June 2014, The Greens/EFA rejected Grillo's attempts to obtain group membership.<ref name="Nielsen">{{cite web|last=Nielsen |first=Nikolaj |url=http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124495 |title=EUobserver / Greens reject Beppe Grillo's offer to team up |work=EUobserver |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> On 11 June 2014, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group rejected the M5S as a potential affiliate in a statement citing the party's perceived Euroscepticism and populism.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alde.eu/nc/press/press-and-release-news/press-release/article/alde-response-to-the-seven-conditions-of-the-movimento-5-stelle-43004/ |title=Press Release |publisher=Alde.eu |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129103727/http://www.alde.eu/nc/press/press-and-release-news/press-release/article/alde-response-to-the-seven-conditions-of-the-movimento-5-stelle-43004/ |archive-date=29 January 2016 }}</ref> In an online referendum offered to M5S members on 12 June 2014, the choice of European Parliament affiliation offered were Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD), the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), or to become Non-Inscrits.<ref>{{cite web|author=Altri articoli dalla categoria |url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2014/06/12/news/m5s_blog_grillo_si_vota_su_alleanze_ue-88731934/ |title=Alleanze in Europa, il M5S sceglie l'Ukip di Farage. Ma la base accusa: votazione pilotata |work=la Repubblica |date=12 June 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Party activists voted 78.1% to join the EFD group.<ref name=eo>{{cite web |author=europe online publishing house gmbh - europeonline-magazine.eu |url=http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/1st-leaditaly-protest-party-to-form-eu-alliance-with-british-euroscepticsukipby-alvise-armellini-dpa_340836.html |title=1ST Lead Italy protest party to form EU alliance with British eurosceptics UKIP By Alvise Armellini, dpa |publisher=En.europeonline-magazine.eu |date=17 May 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173357/http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/1st-leaditaly-protest-party-to-form-eu-alliance-with-british-euroscepticsukipby-alvise-armellini-dpa_340836.html }}</ref> On 18 June 2014, it was announced that the EFD group had enough MEPs to continue into the 8th European Parliament term.<ref>{{cite web|author=Post EU Elections |url=http://euobserver.com/tickers/124651 |title=EUobserver / Farage creates eurosceptic group in EP |work=EUobserver |date=18 June 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> On 24 June 2014, M5S MEP David Borrelli was chosen as the group's new co-president and the EFD group name was amended to Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) for the upcoming parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/06/25/bruxelles-prima-riunione-gruppo-ukip-m5s-farage-e-borrelli-presidenti/285970/ |title=Bruxelles, prima riunione gruppo Ukip-M5S. Farage e Borrelli presidenti – Video Il Fatto Quotidiano TV |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=25 June 2014 |access-date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626211422/http://tv.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/06/25/bruxelles-prima-riunione-gruppo-ukip-m5s-farage-e-borrelli-presidenti/285970/ |archive-date=26 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internazionale.it/news/m5s/2014/06/24/alleuroparlamento-nasce-gruppo-efd-coppia-aperta-per-m5s-ukip/ |title=Internazionale » M5S » All'Europarlamento nasce gruppo Efd, "coppia aperta" per M5s-Ukip |publisher=Internazionale.it |date=24 June 2014 |access-date=14 May 2015}}</ref> The EFDD group lost its official group status on 16 October 2014 after the defection of Latvian MEP Iveta Grigule until Polish MEP Robert Iwaszkiewicz joined the group four days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29692378|title=UKIP's alliance in Europe rescued by Polish MEP|publisher=BBC|date=20 October 2014|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>

On 17 November 2015, after an online poll in which 40,995 people took part, the movement changed its logo to replace the URL of co-founder Grillo (beppegrillo.it) with the official movement URL.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2015/11/il_nuovo_simbolo_del_m5s.html|title=Il nuovo simbolo del M5S|publisher=beppegrillo.it|date=17 November 2015|access-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120011909/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2015/11/il_nuovo_simbolo_del_m5s.html|archive-date=20 November 2015}}</ref> The other option was to remove Grillo's URL entirely, replacing it with nothing. The grounds for the removal of Grillo's name was that "the 5 Star Movement is mature enough and is preparing to govern Italy, so I believe it's correct not to associate it to a name anymore".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2015/11/comunicato_politico_numero_cinquantasei.html|title=Comunicato politico numero cinquantasei|publisher=beppegrillo.it|date=17 November 2015|access-date=20 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120011858/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2015/11/comunicato_politico_numero_cinquantasei.html|archive-date=20 November 2015}}</ref>

===Gianroberto Casaleggio's death=== The movement's founder and main strategist Gianroberto Casaleggio died on 12 April 2016 in Milan, at the age of 61, after a long period of illness due to brain cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/16_aprile_12/m5s-morto-gianroberto-casaleggio-628f6308-0088-11e6-8701-d21ef4c79bc6.shtml|title=M5s, è morto Gianroberto Casaleggio Fotostoria{{!}} Le frasi {{!}} I video|access-date=14 November 2016|work=Corriere.it|date=12 April 2016|language=it}}</ref> After his death, his son Davide was appointed as the president of Casaleggio Associati and took his father's office as leader and strategist of the M5S.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Horowitz |first1=Jason |title=With Success Comes Dissension in Italy's Five Star Movement |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/12/world/europe/with-success-comes-dissension-in-italys-five-star-movement.html |access-date=23 December 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=12 December 2016}}</ref>

===2018 general election=== {{further|2018 Italian general election|Conte I Cabinet}} For the 2018 general election, the M5S presented a programme whose main points are the introduction of a basic income, known as the citizens' income, to fight poverty, a measure that would cost between €15 and €20 billion annually, plus the cut of the public debt by 40 points in relation to GDP in ten years, the adoption of measures to revitalise youth employment, a cut in pensions of over €5,000 net not entirely based on the contribution method, the reduction of IRPEF rates and the extension of the income tax threshold, and the increase in spending on family welfare measures from 1.5 to 2.5% of GDP. On 4 March, none of the three main groupings, namely the M5S, the centre-right coalition, and the centre-left coalition led by the Democratic Party (PD), won a majority of seats in the Italian Parliament, although the M5S became the largest individual party, with 32.7% of the vote and 227 seats in the Chamber.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kirchgaessner |first1=Stephanie |last2=Boffey |first2=Daniel |title=Eurosceptic Italy in race to form majority government |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/05/italy-turns-back-on-europe-as-election-points-to-hung-parliament |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=5 March 2018}}</ref> In May, the M5S entered into coalition talks with centre-left PD, but party secretary Matteo Renzi publicly criticised and rejected the deal being discussed by his fellow party members; the M5S then turned to the League. The talks resulted in the proposal for the self-described Government of Change under the leadership of Giuseppe Conte, a law professor close to the M5S.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2018/05/23/conte-says-to-be-italians-defence-lawyer-in-govt-of-change_3294ff64-f175-4f2d-8323-c775d270645c.html |title=Conte says to be Italians' defence lawyer in govt of change | work=Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata |date=23 May 2018}}</ref> The formation of the cabinet initially failed on 27 May as President Sergio Mattarella did not agree on the appointment of Paolo Savona as the Italian Minister of Economy and Finance due to his perceived Euroscepticism.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2018/05/27/mattarella-meets-conte-vetoed-savona_48b12bb2-f239-462d-83db-fca1f68d70b6.html |title=Mattarella meets Conte, 'vetoed' Savona | work=Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata |date=27 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2018/05/27/conte-drops-govt-bid_e9254d0f-03bd-4699-8599-8ec8edbcf626.html |title=Conte drops govt bid - English | work=Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata |date=27 May 2018}}</ref>

After the 2018 general election, the M5S started a decline in both opinion polls, deputies and senators, and election results, starting with the 2019 European Parliament election. Into the 2018 general election, the M5S proposed a constitutional law that would have obliged members of parliament to resign if they intend to change party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raiplay.it/video/2018/01/Porta-a-Porta-ee758ef4-933a-445c-a079-16622034d511.html|title=Porta a Porta 2017/18 – Puntata del 09/01/2018|publisher=Rai|language=it|access-date=4 March 2018|archive-date=16 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316180151/http://www.raiplay.it/video/2018/01/Porta-a-Porta-ee758ef4-933a-445c-a079-16622034d511.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The M5S had won 227 deputies and 112 senators; by February 2022, the party had declined to 157 deputies and 62 senators, though it remained the biggest party in both houses of parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.camera.it/leg18/46|title=XVIII Legislatura – Deputati e Organi – Composizione Gruppi parlamentari|publisher=Chamber of Deputies|language=it|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senato.it/leg/18/BGT/Schede/Gruppi/Grp.html|title=Composizione dei gruppi parlamentari XVIII Legislatura|publisher=Senate of the Republic|language=it|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> The first defections came when the deputy Andrea Mura was removed by the M5S for his abstentionism and later resigned from his duties,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2018/07/26/andrea-mura-il-m5s-espelle-il-deputato-velista-a-casa-chi-non-segue-le-regole/4518784/|title=Andrea Mura, il M5s espelle il deputato-velista: 'A casa chi non segue le regole'|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=26 July 2018|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2018/09/27/andrea-mura-la-camera-approva-le-dimissioni-del-deputato-velista/4653288/|title=Andrea Mura, ok della Camera alle dimissioni. Ma lui non si presenta in Aula|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=27 September 2018|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> while the deputy Matteo Dall'Osso left the party to join Forza Italia (FI), Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right party,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.it/2018/12/07/matteo-dallosso-eletto-deputato-con-m5s-passa-a-forza-italia-il-movimento-umilia-noi-disabili_a_23611332/ |title='Io, disabile grillino, umiliato da M5s passo a Forza Italia'. La storia di Dall'Osso. I 5 stelle: 'Paghi penale di 100mila euro' |work=HuffPost |date=7 December 2018|language=it}}</ref> and the senators Saverio De Bonis and Gregorio De Falco were ejected due to their opposition to policies of the M5S–League government.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2018/12/31/m5s-espelle-senatori-de-falco-e-de-bonis_b284d9e5-1934-4726-8b3f-bae3689a30f2.html |title=M5S espelle senatori De Falco e De Bonis | work=Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata |date=31 December 2018|language=it}}</ref> Further defections came in 2019, when the deputy Sara Cunial was ejected after accusing the M5S of "favouring agromafia",<ref>{{cite news|last=Zambon|first=Martina|date=17 April 2019|url=https://corrieredelveneto.corriere.it/veneto/politica/19_aprile_17/cunial-m5s-avvia-procedura-espellere-deputata-ribelle-956044fa-60e3-11e9-a069-e8b9fdda85e7.shtml|title=Sara Cunial espulsa dal gruppo M5s. 'Il partito fa scempio in nome e per conto delle agromafie'|work=Corriere del Veneto|language=it|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> the senator Paola Nugnes, who would later join the left-wing parliamentary group Free and Equal (LeU) as an independent representative of the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC), was removed from the M5S after voting against Salvini's decrees on immigration,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/politica/paola-nugnes-espulsa-dai-5-stelle-ma-fico-sara-sempre-movimento-613192.html|title=Paola Nugnes espulsa dai 5 Stelle. Ma Fico: 'Sarà sempre Movimento'|work=Affari Italiani|language=it|date=28 June 2019|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> as did the deputies Veronica Giannone and Gloria Vizzini, who opposed some of the M5S–League government's legislation,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/M5S-altre-due-espulsioni-fuori-Veronica-Giannone-e-Gloria-Vizzini-defca2bf-f1e6-436a-b824-ea834b83bcf6.html|title=M5S: Veronica Giannone e Gloria Vizzini espulse dal gruppo alla Camera|publisher=Rai|language=it|date=1 July 2019|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> while the deputy Davide Galantino, who would later join the right-wing Brothers of Italy,<ref>{{cite news|last=Greci|first=Lavinia|date=9 October 2019|url=https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/lascia-m5s-fratelli-ditalia-urlano-veduto-ed-rissa-camera-1765975.html|title=Lascia il M5S per Fratelli d'Italia: gli urlano 'venduto' ed è rissa alla Camera|work=Il Giornale|language=it|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> left the M5S to join the Mixed Group,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ladiretta1993.com/2019/07/10/davide-galantino-abbandona-il-movimento-5-stelle-e-passa-al-gruppo-misto/|title=Davide Galantino abbandona il Movimento 5 Stelle e passa al gruppo misto|work=La Diretta 1993 Bisceglie Notizie|language=it|date=10 July 2019|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> as did the senator Elena Fattori, who joined Italian Left (SI) in January 2021.<ref name="Il Fatto Quotidiano">{{cite news|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2021/02/15/le-ex-m5s-nugnes-e-fattori-stanno-con-sinistra-italiana-voteremo-no-alla-fiducia-a-draghi-il-governo-e-molto-posizionato-a-destra/6101765/|title=Le ex M5s Nugnes e Fattori stanno con Sinistra italiana: 'Voteremo no alla fiducia a Draghi. Il governo è molto posizionato a destra'|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=15 February 2021|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="La Repubblica">{{cite news|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/02/26/news/paola_nugnes_elena_fattori_sinistra_italiana-289322649/|title=Senato, le ex-grilline Paola Nugnes ed Elena Fattori aderiscono a sinistra italiana|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=26 February 2021|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref>

===2019 European Parliament election=== {{further|2019 European Parliament election in Italy}} thumb|193x193px|Map showing the 2019 European Parliament election result In the 2019 European Parliament election in May, the M5S saw decline in its vote share and the number of seats held from 21.2% of the vote and 17 seats to 17.1% of the vote and 14 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 September 2014|title=Results by country|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/elections2014-results/en/country-results-it-2014.html|access-date=10 July 2021|website=European Parliament}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2 July 2019|title=Results by national party: 2019-2024|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/election-results-2019/en/national-results/italy/2019-2024|access-date=10 July 2021|website=European Parliament}}</ref> The results were seen as a significant defeat for the party, as the League was able to surpass the M5S in terms of vote share and seats by a large margin. Additionally, the results showed the party had seen a significant decline since the 2018 general election.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 May 2019|title=The biggest winners and losers in Italy's EU election results|work=The Local|url=https://www.thelocal.it/20190527/winners-losers-italy-eu-election-results/|access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

After the results, Di Maio called a vote of confidence in his leadership after several officials criticised him; transparency of the Rousseau platform, the online platform used by the party, was questioned earlier on in the year.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Borrelli|first=Silvia|date=29 May 2019|title=5Star leader Di Maio calls confidence vote|work=Politico Europe|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/5star-leader-luigi-di-maio-calls-confidence-vote|access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref> On 31 May 2019, Di Maio won the vote of confidence, with the support of 80% of 56,127 members who voted on the motion. Afterwards, Di Maio pledged to reform the party.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Luke|first=Hurst|date=31 May 2019|title=Italy's 5-Star leader and deputy PM Luigi Di Maio wins party confidence vote|work=Euronews|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/30/italy-s-5-star-leader-and-deputy-pm-luigi-di-maio-wins-party-confidence-vote|access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=31 May 2019|title=5-Star members back Di Maio to stay after EU election rout|work=Euractiv|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/5-star-members-backs-di-maio-to-stay-after-eu-election-rout/|access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

===2019 government crisis=== {{further|2019 Italian government crisis|Conte II Cabinet}} In August 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini announced a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Conte after growing tensions within the majority.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/Salvini-Subito-in-Aula-poi-le-elezioni-Conte-Dovra-spiegare-le-ragioni-della-crisi-648408f5-df6c-49f8-bf6d-a73532bd60ab.html|title=La Lega presenta al Senato una mozione di sfiducia a Conte. M5S attacca Salvini: 'Giullare'|publisher=Rai|language=it|date=9 August 2019|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2019/08/07/tav-senato-mozioni-m5s/|title=Il Senato ha bocciato la mozione del M5S sulla TAV|work=Il Post|language=it|date=7 August 2019|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> Many political analysts believe the no confidence motion was an attempt to force early elections to improve the League's standing in the Italian Parliament, ensuring Salvini could become the next prime minister.<ref>{{cite news|last=Squires|first=Nick|date=9 August 2019|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/09/italys-league-files-no-confidence-motion-prime-minister-inbid/|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Italy's League files no confidence motion in prime minister in bid to trigger election|work=The Telegraph|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/09/italys-league-files-no-confidence-motion-prime-minister-inbid/|archive-date=12 January 2022|access-date=19 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 20 August, following the parliamentary debate in which he accused Salvini of being a political opportunist who "had triggered the political crisis only to serve his personal interest",<ref name="Giuffrida 2019">{{cite news|last=Giuffrida|first=Angela|date=20 August 2019|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/20/italian-pm-expected-resign-giuseppe-conte|title=Italian PM resigns with attack on 'opportunist' Salvini|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> Prime Minister Conte resigned his post to President Sergio Mattarella.<ref>{{cite news|last=Horowitz|first=Jason|date=20 August 2019|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/world/europe/italy-pm-giuseppe-conte-resign.html|title=Italy's Government Collapses, Turning Chaos Into Crisis|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref>

On 21 August, President Mattarella started the consultations with all the parliamentary groups. On the same day, the national direction of the PD officially opened to a cabinet with the M5S,<ref name="Giuffrida 2019"/> based on pro-Europeanism, a green economy, sustainable development, the fight against economic inequality, and a new immigration policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2019/08/21/news/governo_il_testo_integrale_della_relazione_di_zingaretti_alla_direzione_pd-234041294/|title=Governo, Zingaretti: 'I 5 punti per trattare con il M5S. No accordicchi, governo di svolta'|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=21 August 2019|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> In the days that preceded the second round, a confrontation between the PD and the M5S started,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fanpage.it/politica/ce-laccordo-sul-conte-bis-da-pd-e-m5s-via-libera-a-governo-con-tutti-i-big/|title=Ecco l'accordo sul Conte bis: Zingaretti dà il via libera, nodo su ministeri e manovra|work=Fanpage|language=it|date=26 August 2019|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> while the left-wing parliamentary group LeU announced its support for a potential M5S–PD cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2019/08/19/grasso-possibile-intesa-m5s-pd-leu_301fb033-f640-4d0f-bba3-ea37eb594c9b.html|title=Grasso, possibile intesa M5s-Pd-Leu|publisher=ANSA|language=it|date=19 August 2019|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> On 28 August, the PD's newly elected secretary Nicola Zingaretti announced at the Quirinal Palace his favourable position on forming a new government with the M5S, with Conte at its head.<ref>{{cite news|last1=D'Emilio|first1=Frances|last2=Zampano|first2=Giada|date=28 August 2019|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/conte-wins-crucial-support-for-new-italian-govt-coalition/2019/08/28/a85203c4-c99c-11e9-9615-8f1a32962e04_story.html|title=Italy's Conte might be back at helm with Salvini shut out|publisher=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828200930/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/conte-wins-crucial-support-for-new-italian-govt-coalition/2019/08/28/a85203c4-c99c-11e9-9615-8f1a32962e04_story.html|archive-date=28 August 2019|access-date=19 February 2022|via=The Washington Post}}</ref> On the same day, Mattarella summoned Conte to the Quirinal Palace for 29 August to give him the task of forming a new cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.agi.it/politica/governo_pd_m5s_consultazioni-6094223/news/2019-08-28/|title=C'è l'accordo tra M5s e Pd. Governo giallorosso ai nastri di partenza|publisher=AGI|language=it|date=28 August 2019|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> On 3 September, members of the M5S voted on the Rousseau platform in favour of an agreement with the PD under the premiership of Conte, with more than 79% of votes out of nearly 80,000 voters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2019/09/03/news/governo_i_militanti_del_m5s_votano_il_via_libera_al_governo_con_il_pd_sulla_piattaforma_rousseau-235054044/|title=Governo, via libera di Rousseau all'intesa M5s-Pd con il 79% dei voti. Conte domattina al Quirinale|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=3 September 2019|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> On 4 September, Conte announced the ministers of his new cabinet, which was sworn in at the Quirinal Palace on the following day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/italy-swears-in-new-coalition-government/a-50299272|title=Italy swears in new coalition government|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=5 September 2019|access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> On 18 September, Renzi left the PD to found the centrist liberal party Italia Viva (IV); he then joined the government with IV to keep the League and Salvini out of power.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Fusaro|first=Carlo|date=22 September 2019|url=https://verfassungsblog.de/italia-viva-party-system-reform-morta/|title=Italia Viva, Party System Reform Morta: What Matteo Renzi's split from the PD means for democracy and stability in Italy and beyond|journal=Verfassungsblog: On Matters Constitutional|doi=10.17176/20190922-232352-0|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

During Conte's second government, the M5S continued to suffer parliamentary defections, among them the senator Gelsomina Vono, who left the M5S to join first IV an then FI,<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 September 2019|title=La senatrice M5s Vono passa da M5s a Italia Viva di Renzi - Politica|url=http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2019/09/26/la-senatrice-m5s-vono-passa-da-m5s-a-italia-viva-di-renzi_cc7333e7-6526-47a5-ba89-5bd8137acd27.html|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Agenzia ANSA|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=La senatrice Vono lascia Italia viva per entrare in Forza Italia|url=https://www.ilfoglio.it/politica/2022/01/21/news/la-senatrice-vono-lascia-italia-viva-per-entrare-in-forza-italia-3568841/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Il Foglio|language=it}}</ref> the senator Elena Fattori,<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 December 2020|title='Abbandonata dal M5S', Elena Fattori passa al Misto|url=https://www.adnkronos.com/abbandonata-dal-m5s-elena-fattori-passa-al-misto_7M3SRschHk9QxA8wAmIV0W|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Adnkronos}}</ref> who moved to the Mixed Group and then joined SI in January 2021.<ref name="Il Fatto Quotidiano"/><ref name="La Repubblica"/> while the senator Ugo Grassi, Stefano Lucidi, and Francesco Urraro joined the League.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 December 2019|title=M5s, i senatori Grassi, Lucidi e Urraro passano alla Lega|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2019/12/12/news/ugo_grassi_lascia_m5s_e_passa_a_lega-243269049/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=la Repubblica|language=it}}</ref> Additionally, the education ministry Lorenzo Fioramonti left the M5S to join the Mixed Group,<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 December 2019|title=M5s, l'ex ministro Fioramonti lascia il Movimento: 'Troppi attacchi dai Cinque stelle, delusione è un sentimento diffuso'|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2019/12/30/news/m5s_fioramonti_lascia-244665956/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=la Repubblica|language=it}}</ref> the senator Gianluigi Paragone, who would later found the Eurosceptic Italexit party and was joined by the senators Carlo Martelli and Mario Giarrusso,<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 January 2021|title=Crisi di governo, Paragone (Italexit): 'tutti mi schifano, sono l'unico del Gruppo Misto che non è stato chiamato'|url=http://www.strettoweb.com/2021/01/crisi-di-governo-paragone-italexit-tutti-mi-schifano-sono-lunico-del-gruppo-misto-che-non-e-stato-chiamato/1120237/|access-date=27 October 2021|website=StrettoWeb|language=it-IT}}</ref> was ejected for voting against the finance bill and for his lack of confidence vote to Conte's second cabinet,<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 January 2020|title=Paragone espulso dal Movimento 5 Stelle: 'Ha anche votato contro la legge di bilancio'. Lui: 'Sono stato espulso dal nulla'|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2020/01/01/news/paragone_espulso_dal_movimento_5_stelle_ha_anche_votato_contro_la_legge_di_bilancio_-244783685/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=la Repubblica|language=it}}</ref> the deputies Nunzio Angiola and Gianluca Rospi joined the Mixed Group,<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 January 2020|title=I deputati Nunzio Angiola e Gianluca Rospi hanno lasciato il Movimento 5 Stelle|url=http://www.ilpost.it/2020/01/03/nunzio-angiola-lascia-movimento-5-stelle/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Il Post|language=it-IT}}</ref> as did the deputies Santi Cappellani,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stefanoni|first=Franco|date=1 July 2020|title=Anche il deputato Cappellani lascia il M5S: 'Quando sento 'pugno di ferro' rabbrividisco'|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/20_gennaio_07/anche-deputato-cappellani-lascia-m5s-quando-sento-pugno-ferro-rabbrividisco-e40463c4-3131-11ea-a175-d97603799814.shtml|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Corriere della Sera|language=it}}</ref> Massimiliano De Toma, Rachele Silvestri,<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 January 2020|title=Emorragia continua: altri due deputati lasciano il Movimento 5 Stelle|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.it/entry/emorragia-continua-altri-due-deputati-lasciano-il-movimento-5-stelle_it_5e174b47c5b61f70194b2694/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=HuffPost Italia|language=it|archive-date=28 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228041053/https://www.huffingtonpost.it/entry/emorragia-continua-altri-due-deputati-lasciano-il-movimento-5-stelle_it_5e174b47c5b61f70194b2694/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nadia Aprile, and Michele Nitti,<ref>{{Cite web|title=M5s, altri due deputati lasciano il Movimento|url=https://tg.la7.it/politica/m5s-altri-due-deputati-lasciano-il-movimento-21-01-2020-146412|access-date=20 February 2022|website=TGLA7|date=21 January 2020 |language=it}}</ref> who joined the PD, and the senator Luigi Di Marzio,<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 January 2020|title=Il senatore Luigi Di Marzio ha lasciato il Movimento 5 Stelle|url=http://www.ilpost.it/2020/01/16/luigi-di-marzio-lascia-m5s/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Il Post|language=it-IT}}</ref> while the deputy Flora Frate was expelled from the M5S for failure to return her salary.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 December 2020|title=M5S, 6 espulsi e 'graziato' Giarrusso|url=https://www.adnkronos.com/m5s-6-espulsi-e-graziato-giarrusso_h7gpjjHZRw3LfCvBbbpym|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Adnkronos}}</ref>

===2020 leadership crisis=== On 22 January, four days before the 2020 Italian regional elections, Di Maio resigned as party leader and was replaced ''ad interim'' by Vito Crimi.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Giuffrida|first=Angela|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/22/luigi-di-maio-resigns-as-leader-of-italys-five-star-movement|title=Luigi Di Maio resigns as leader of Italy's Five Star Movement|date=22 January 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 February 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> On 15 June, the conservative Spanish newspaper ''ABC'' reported that then-Foreign Minister of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro paid Gianroberto Casaleggio €3.5 million in 2010 to finance an "anticapitalist, leftist movement in the Italian Republic". Davide Casaleggio said this was fake news that had already surfaced in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Una investigación asegura que el régimen chavista financió al Movimiento 5 Estrellas que hoy gobierna Italia con 3,9 millones de dólares |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/mundo/2020/06/15/una-investigacion-asegura-que-el-regimen-chavista-financio-al-movimiento-5-estrellas-que-hoy-gobierna-italia-con-39-millones-de-dolares/ |website=infobae |date=15 June 2020 |access-date=15 June 2020 |language=es}}</ref>

===2021–2022 government crises=== {{further|2021 Italian government crisis|2022 Italian government crisis}} [[File:Giuseppe Conte nel corso delle dichiarazioni in occasione del conferimento dell'incarico - 23 maggio 2018.jpg|thumb|right|Giuseppe Conte at the Quirinal Palace]] On 26 January 2021, Conte resigned as prime minister. On 11 February, registered members of the party were made to vote on whether to join a government headed by Mario Draghi government through the SkyVote platform; 59% voted in favour.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Balmer | first1=Crispian | last2=Amante | first2=Angelo | title=Italy's 5-Star votes to back Draghi, opening way for new government | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics/italys-5-star-votes-to-back-draghi-opening-way-for-new-government-idUSKBN2AB10N | date=11 February 2021 | work=Reuters | access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref> The debate over whether to support the Draghi government led to a split in the party,<ref>{{cite web | last1=Jones | first1=Gavin | last2=Amante | first2=Angelo | last3=Fonte | first3=Giuseppe | title=Divided over Draghi, Italy's 5-Star has an identity crisis | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-5star-insight/divided-over-draghi-italys-5-star-has-an-identity-crisis-idUSKBN2AJ0GQ | date=19 February 2021 | work=Reuters | access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref> and the party expelled parliamentarians who voted against Draghi,<ref>{{cite web | last1=Amante | first1=Angelo | title=Italy's 5-Star to kick out senators who voted against Draghi | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-5star/italys-5-star-to-kick-out-senators-who-voted-against-draghi-idUSKBN2AI1X8 | date=20 February 2021 | work=Reuters | access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref> and would soon found Alternative,<ref>{{cite web|title=Espulsi M5s: domani nasce "Alternativa c'è" alla Camera e al Senato|url=https://gazzettadelsud.it/articoli/cronaca/2021/02/23/espulsi-m5s-domani-nasce-alternativa-ce-anche-al-senato-917f65c9-da8c-48f2-ae98-7b5241bd2497/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Gazzetta del Sud|date=23 February 2021 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=19 November 2021|title=Parlamento: ex M5S lanciano 'Alternativa', 'impedire elezione Draghi al Quirinale'|url=https://www.adnkronos.com/parlamento-ex-m5s-lanciano-alternativa-impedire-elezione-draghi-al-quirinale_W4lsgcm0rIrjULAyC0MRf|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Adnkronos}}</ref> and ManifestA later in February 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ilmanifesto.it/nasce-manifesta-4-ex-m5s-coi-simboli-di-pap-e-rifondazione/|title=Nasce 'ManifestA', 4 ex M5S coi simboli di Pap e Rifondazione|work=Il manifesto|date=16 February 2022|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Puccirelli|first=Matteo|date=16 February 2022|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/02/16/news/potere_popolo_rifondazione_comunisti_ex_m5s_nasce_manifesta_nel_2023_con_de_magistris-337819883/|title=Da Rifondazione agli ex 5S, alla Camera nasce ManifestA. Nel 2023 De Magistris guiderà la sfida alla sinistra|work=La Repubblica|access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> Prominent member Alessandro Di Battista, who opposed the party's decision, left the M5S on 11 February.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 February 2021|title=Di Battista: 'Lascio il M5s, non accetto un governo con questi partiti'. Il Movimento a rischio scissione|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/02/11/news/di_battista_lascia_i_5_stelle_l_annuncio_in_una_diretta_facebook-287151156/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=la Repubblica|language=it}}</ref>

On 23 April, M5S and its web platform called Rousseau separated from one another. This was mainly due to a strained relationship as many parliamentarians refused to cover costs of the Rousseau Association. This resulted on the association cutting its ties and sending its employees home on reduced pay. Additionally, disagreements between Davide Casaleggio and Conte over the latter's proposed reforms led to an increasingly strained relationship. After the separation, the M5S accused the association of interference in the party's decisions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Gavin|date=23 April 2021|title=Italy's 5-Star splits with web platform as it heads towards mainstream|work=Reuters|editor-last=Kasolowsky|editor-first=Raissa|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italys-5-star-splits-with-web-platform-it-heads-towards-mainstream-2021-04-23|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref> In May 2021, Isabella Adinolfi became the eighth MEP to defect from the M5S since the 2019 European Parliament election.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fortuna|first=Gerardo|date=23 April 2021|title=And then there were eight: Five Star group loses another MEP|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/and-then-there-were-eight-five-star-group-loses-another-mep/|access-date=25 October 2021|website=Euractiv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=L'europarlamentare Adinolfi lascia M5S e sceglie Forza Italia: 'Adesione importante'|url=https://www.ilmattino.it/salerno/isabella_adinolfi_europarlamentare_forza_italia-5990781.html|access-date=25 October 2021|website=Il Mattino|date=29 May 2021|language=it}}</ref> In July 2021, the senator Matteo Mantero left the M5S to join Power to the People.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 July 2021|title=Potere al Popolo entra in Parlamento con l'ex M5S Mantero: 'Sono un marxista, il Movimento delle origini è finito'|language=it|work=la Repubblica|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/07/27/news/intervista_mantero_ex_5s_con_potere_al_popolo-311924670|access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref>

On 6 August, after a two-day online election in which 67,064 members voted, Conte was elected president of the M5S, with 62,242 votes (93%) in favour.<ref>{{cite news|last=Scott|first=Mark|title=Italy's ex-PM Conte takes over as 5Star leader|url=https://politico.eu/article/italy-giuseppe-conte-5star-movement-leader/|date=7 August 2021|work=Politico Europe|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Crimi|first=Vito|date=6 August 2021|title=Giuseppe Conte eletto Presidente del MoVimento 5 Stelle|url=https://www.movimento5stelle.eu/giuseppe-conte-eletto-presidente-del-movimento-5-stelle/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806205705/https://www.movimento5stelle.eu/giuseppe-conte-eletto-presidente-del-movimento-5-stelle|archive-date=6 August 2021|access-date=8 August 2021|website=Movimento 5 Stelle}}</ref> The M5S suffered significant losses in the 2021 Italian regional elections in October, particularly the mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi, who was decisively defeated.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 October 2021|title=Italy's Five Star Movement set to lose power in Rome and Turin|url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/10/04/italy-s-five-star-movement-set-to-lose-power-in-rome-turin|access-date=25 October 2021|website=euronews}}</ref> In November 2021, the senator Emanuele Dessì left the M5S to join the Communist Party.<ref>{{cite news|date=25 November 2021|title=Il ritorno dei comunisti in Parlamento (grazie al M5S)|language=it|work=la Repubblica|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/11/25/news/il_ritorno_dei_comunisti_in_parlamento_grazie_al_m5s_-327647684|access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref> On 7 February 2022, the court of Naples suspended the resolutions regarding the change in the M5S statute and the election of Conte as president of the M5S.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Licciardi |first1=Lucia |title=Il tribunale di Napoli ha sospeso lo statuto del Movimento, Conte decade |url=https://www.agi.it/politica/news/2022-02-07/m5s-tribunale-napoli-sospende-statuto-conte-decade-15532307/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=Agi |date=7 February 2022 |language=it}}</ref> On 21 June, Di Maio announced a split over foreign policy disagreements with Conte's faction,<ref>{{cite news |title=Di Maio lascia i 5Stelle: 'Bisogna scegliere da che parte stare della storia. Alcuni dirigenti hanno rischiato di indebolire l'Italia' |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/06/21/news/luigi_di_maio_scissione_m5s_giuseppe_conte_grillo-354923869/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=21 June 2022 |language=it }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Canettieri |first1=Simone |title=Scissione M5s, il gruppo di Di Maio si chiamerà 'Insieme per il futuro' |url=https://www.ilfoglio.it/politica/2022/06/21/news/scissione-m5s-l-obiettivo-di-di-maio-e-un-gruppo-con-45-parlamentari-4141853/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |work=Il Foglio |date=21 June 2022 |language=it }}</ref> leading the formation of the Together for the Future parliamentary group,<ref>{{cite news|agency=Reuters|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/21/italy-foreign-minister-leaves-5-star-to-form-new-group-backing-pm | title=Italy: Foreign minister leaves 5-Star to form new group backing PM|work=The Guardian|date=21 June 2022|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref> joined by 51 deputies and 11 senators formerly of M5S.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bozza|first1=Claudio|last2=Buzzi|first2=Emanuele|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/22_giugno_22/m5s-maio-lega-primo-partito-5ad23df0-f1a1-11ec-82b6-14b9a59f244e.shtml|title=Scissione M5S, chi sono i 62 parlamentari che hanno seguito di Maio. La Lega diventa primo partito: I nuovi equilibri in Parlamento|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=22 June 2022|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref>

During 2022, rumours arose around a possible withdrawal of M5S's support to the national unity government, including allegations that Draghi privately criticised Conte and asked Grillo to replace him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/06/29/draghi-se-ho-chiesto-la-testa-di-conte-ci-siamo-parlati-poco-fa-abbiamo-cominciato-a-chiarirci-il-governo-non-rischia/6644343/|title=La giornalista a Draghi: 'È vero che ha chiesto a Grillo la testa di Conte?'. Il premier: 'Ci siamo parlati poco fa, abbiamo cominciato a chiarirci'|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=29 June 2022|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Hannah|date=30 June 2022|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/draghi-leave-nato-summit-early-deal-domestic-woe/|title=Draghi leaves NATO summit early to deal with domestic woes|work=Politico Europe|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref> This came amid tension between the M5S and the Draghi government on economic,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ghiglione|first1=Davide|last2=Kirby|first2=Paul|date=14 July 2022|title=Italian PM Mario Draghi offers resignation after coalition falls apart|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62171284|access-date=22 July 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721054408/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62171284|archive-date=21 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=15 July 2022|title=Italian PM Mario Draghi offers to quit but president rejects resignation|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Italian-PM-Mario-Draghi-offers-to-quit-but-president-rejects-resignation|access-date=22 July 2022|work=Nihon Keizai Shinbun|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720144022/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Italian-PM-Mario-Draghi-offers-to-quit-but-president-rejects-resignation|archive-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> environmental,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rizzini |first1=Marianna |title=Il M5s mette in crisi il governo per l'inceneritore, e la Cgil si accoda |url=https://www.ilfoglio.it/roma-capoccia/2022/07/14/news/il-m5s-mette-in-crisi-il-governo-per-l-inceneritore-e-la-cgil-si-accoda-4214738/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |work=Il Foglio |date=14 July 2022 |language=it |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714201905/https://www.ilfoglio.it/roma-capoccia/2022/07/14/news/il-m5s-mette-in-crisi-il-governo-per-l-inceneritore-e-la-cgil-si-accoda-4214738/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and foreign policy issues.<ref>{{cite news |title='Ci vogliono fuori dal governo'. La furia di Conte contro Draghi |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/05/05/news/conte_m5s_governo_draghi_maggioranza-348147282/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=4 May 2022 |language=it }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Conte scatenato contro Draghi: l'alleanza Pd-M5S sempre più a rischio |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/05/13/news/conte_letta_divisioni_m5s_pd_draghi_ucraina_governo-349265743/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |work=La Repubblica |date=12 May 2022 |language=it }}</ref> On 12 July, Draghi stated he would resign if the M5S withdraws its support to the government.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cangemi|first=Annalisa|title=Draghi: 'Per me non c'è un governo senza 5 stelle, ma questo governo continua finché riesce a lavorare'|url=https://www.fanpage.it/politica/draghi-questo-governo-continua-finche-riesce-a-lavorare-ma-per-me-non-ce-governo-senza-il-m5s/|website=Fanpage.it|date=20 July 2021|language=it}}</ref> On 14 July, the M5S revoked the support to the government of national unity regarding a decree concerning economic stimulus to contrast the ongoing energy crisis,<ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Hannah|date=14 July 2022|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/draghi-threat-quit-tip-europe-deeper-crisis/|title=Draghi dangles resignation, just when Europe needs him|work=Politico Europe|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref> leading to a government crisis,<ref>{{cite news|last=Horowitz|first=Jason|date=20 July 2022|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/world/europe/draghi-italy-prime-minister.html|title=Draghi Government Falls Apart, Returning Turbulent Politics to Italy|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220720-italy-s-draghi-calls-for-new-pact-ahead-of-confidence-vote|title=Italy in limbo as Draghi wins confidence vote but loses parliamentary majority|website=France 24|publisher=Agence-France Press|date=20 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Hannah|date=20 July 2022|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/latest-mario-draghi-brink-italy-prime-minister-government-collapse-crisis/|title=Mario Draghi faces the end after Italy's coalition refuses to back him|work=Politico Europe|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref> and the collapse of Draghi's government on 21 July.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/22_luglio_21/draghi-dimissioni-governo-ad4926de-0835-11ed-bd15-abd29857fc36.shtml|title=Draghi ha dato le dimissioni|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=21 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Amaro|first1=Silvia|last2=Clinch|first2=Matt|date=21 July 2022|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/21/italian-pm-mario-draghi-says-he-will-resign-after-failing-to-revive-his-coalition-government.html|title=Italian PM Mario Draghi quits after failing to revive his coalition government|publisher=CNBC|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref> Parliament was dissolved and a snap election was called for September 2022.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mattarella scioglie le Camere, si vota il 25 settembre. Draghi ai ministri: 'Orgogliosi del lavoro svolto' – Politica|date=21 July 2022|url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2022/07/21/mattarella-scioglie-le-camere-si-vota-il-25-settembre.-draghi-ai-ministriorgogliosi-del-lavoro-svolto_8a08bf5e-bb74-4e5c-b1a6-fdfce445c5d7.html|language=it|publisher=ANSA|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Favale|first1=Mauro|last2=Matteucci|first2=Piera|date=21 July 2022|title=Draghi, la crisi di governo: voto anticipato il 25 settembre. Mattarella: 'Non ci sono prospettive per una nuova maggioranza'. Draghi: 'C'è tempo per saluti, ora al lavoro'|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/07/21/diretta/draghi_crisi_governo_oggi_fiducia_camera_ultime_news-358571963/|access-date=22 July 2022|work=La Repubblica|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Borghese|first1=Livia|last2=Braithwaite|first2=Sharon|last3=Fox|first3=Kara|last4=Latza Nadeau|first4=Barbie|last5=Ruotolo|first5=Nicola|date=21 July 2022|title=Italy's president dissolves parliament, triggering snap election following Draghi's resignation|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/21/europe/mario-draghi-italy-resignation-intl/index.html|access-date=22 July 2022|publisher=CNN}}</ref>

===2022 general election=== {{further|2022 Italian general election}} Some early opinion polling for the 2022 Italian general election showed that the only way to avoid a right-wing alliance victory was the formation of a large big tent coalition including the M5S, minor left-wing and centrist parties, and their 2019–2021 government ally, the PD.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tg24.sky.it/politica/2022/07/19/sondaggi-politici-oggi|title=Crisi governo, come finirebbe se si andasse al voto oggi? Ecco 3 scenari|website=Sky TG24|language=it|date=19 July 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Fiori|first=Daniele|date=22 July 2022|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/07/22/elezioni-politiche-2022-weber-m5s-e-pd-alleanza-non-conviene-da-soli-potranno-aumentare-il-consenso/6716675/|title=Elezioni politiche 2022, il sondaggista Weber: 'A M5s e Pd l'alleanza non conviene, da soli potranno aumentare il consenso'. Noto: 'Non basterebbe comunque per vincere'|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/07/22/franceschini-certifica-la-fine-del-patto-col-m5s-rivendico-quello-che-abbiamo-fatto-con-loro-ma-lo-strappo-rende-impossibile-lalleanza/6715576/|title=Franceschini certifica la fine del patto col M5s: 'Rivendico quello che abbiamo fatto con loro, ma lo strappo rende impossibile l'alleanza'|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=22 July 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref> As the M5S was blamed by the PD for causing the fall of Mario Draghi's government,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.open.online/2022/07/21/crisi-di-governo-draghi-partito-democratico/|title=Elezioni anticipate, Letta chiude al M5s: 'Impossibili alleanze con chi ha fatto cadere il governo'. Conte: 'Il Pd faccia le sue scelte'|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=21 July 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref> an alliance was excluded from both sides, despite some pressure from the left to maintain the PD–M5S alliance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/07/23/fratoianni-a-letta-costruiamo-fronte-antidestra-ma-bisogna-abbandonare-lagenda-draghi/6740172/|title=Fratoianni a Letta: 'Costruiamo fronte antidestra ma bisogna abbandonare l'agenda Draghi'|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=23 July 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref> They remained allies at the regional level, such as in Liguria and Sicily, though not without criticism and issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/08/06/lite-paita-iv-furfaro-pd-su-la7-nostalgici-di-conte-in-liguria-siete-ancora-alleati-del-m5s-voi-governate-con-lega-e-fdi/6754717/|title=Lite Paita (Iv)-Furfaro (Pd) su La7: 'Nostalgici di Conte, in Liguria siete ancora alleati del M5s'. 'Voi governate con Lega e FdI'|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=13 August 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/08/13/regionali-sicilia-alta-tensione-tra-m5s-e-pd-dopo-il-deposito-dei-simboli-i-dem-sottovalutano-la-situazione-alleanza-a-rischio/6762226/|title=Regionali Sicilia, alta tensione tra M5s e Pd dopo il deposito dei simboli: 'I dem sottovalutano la situazione'. Alleanza a rischio|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=13 August 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref> Under Conte's leadership in 2022, the M5S declared themselves to be part of the progressive pole and to be to the left of the PD;<ref>{{cite news|last=Padoan|first=Enrico|date=6 September 2022|url=https://ilmanifesto.it/i-5-stelle-di-conte-si-buttano-a-sinistra-alcuni-dati-di-fatto-e-qualche-dubbio|title=I 5 Stelle di Conte si buttano a sinistra. Alcuni dati di fatto e qualche dubbio|newspaper=Il manifesto|language=it|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref> their campaign centered around the minimum wage and in defence of the citizens' income from right-wing criticism.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tecce|first=Laura|date=12 September 2022|url=https://www.quotidianodelsud.it/laltravoce-dellitalia/laltravoce-dei-ventenni/interviste/2022/09/12/conte-non-permetteremo-labolizione-del-reddito-di-cittadinanza|title=Conte: 'Non permetteremo l'abolizione del reddito di cittadinanza'|website=Quotidiano del Sud|language=it|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref>

Thanks in part to a strong performance in southern Italy, the M5S defied single-digits polls in July 2022,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Anzolin|first1=Elisa|last2=Weir|first2=Keith|date=26 September 2022|title=Italy election victors target era of political stability|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/giorgia-melonis-right-triumphs-italys-election-2022-09-26/ |access-date=28 October 2022}}</ref> obtained 15.4% of the vote and won several single-member constituencies in the South that otherwise would have been won by the centre-right coalition.<ref name="Kirby 2022">{{cite news|last=Kirby|first=Paul|date=26 September 2022|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63029909|title=Giorgia Meloni: Italy's far right wins election and vows to govern for all|publisher=BBC|access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Horowitz 2022">{{cite news|last=Horowitz|first=Jason|title=Giorgia Meloni Wins Voting in Italy, in Breakthrough for Europe's Hard Right|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/25/world/europe/italy-meloni-prime-minister.html|url-status=live|access-date=27 September 2022|work=The New York Times|date=25 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927040606/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/25/world/europe/italy-meloni-prime-minister.html|archive-date=27 September 2022}}</ref> For the first time since 2018, the M5S returned at the opposition level and voted against Giorgia Meloni's government, which had been sworn in on 22 October, in the confidence vote in both houses of the Italian Parliament on 25–26 October.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cipolla|first1=Alessandro|last2=Imparato|first2=Rosaria|date=25 October 2022|url=https://www.money.it/meloni-camera-diretta-video-voto-fiducia-governo|title=Meloni alla Camera, diretta video voto di fiducia al governo: cosa ha detto nella replica la presidente del Consiglio|trans-title=Meloni in the Chamber, live video vote of confidence in the government: what the prime minister said in response|website=Money|language=it|access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2022/10/26/il-senato-vota-la-fiducia-al-governo-meloni-115-si-79-no-e-5-astenuti_1f316e11-70d5-491d-801f-7e5cea2d1b71.html|title=Il Senato vota la fiducia al governo Meloni: 115 sì, 79 no e 5 astenuti|trans-title=The Senate votes for confidence in the Meloni government: 115 yes, 79 no, and 5 abstentions|publisher=ANSA|language=it|date=26 October 2022|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tg24.sky.it/politica/2022/10/26/governo-meloni-fiducia-ultime-notizie|title=Governo Meloni, le ultime notizie. Fiducia in Senato per l'esecutivo: 115 sì e 79 no|trans-title=Meloni government, the latest news. Confidence in the Senate for the executive: 115 yes and 79 no|website=Sky TG24|language=it|date=26 October 2022|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> Conte said he would lead an "uncompromising opposition" and added: "We will be the outpost for the progressive agenda against inequalities, to protect families and businesses in difficulty, to defend the rights and values of our Constitution."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Braithwaite|first1=Sharon|last2=DiDonato|first2=Valentina|last3=Fox|first3=Kara|last4=Mortensen|first4=Antonia|last5=Nadeau|first5=Barbie Latza|last6=Ruotolo|first6=Nicola|date=26 September 2022|title=Giorgia Meloni claims victory to become Italy's most far-right prime minister since Mussolini|publisher=CNN|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/25/europe/italy-election-results-intl/index.html|access-date=26 September 2022}}</ref>

===2024 regional and European Parliament elections=== In the 2024 Sardinian regional election, former deputy minister Alessandra Todde was elected president of Sardinia at the head of a centre-left coalition including the PD, left-wing parties and regional ones.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ansa.it/english/news/2024/02/27/centre-lefts-todde-wins-sardinia-governor-race_16331f2a-3096-447f-b222-0dec73d83b3d.html | title=Centre left's Todde wins Sardinia governor race - TopNews - Ansa.it | date=27 February 2024 }}</ref> Todde was the first regional president hailing from the M5S.

In the 2024 European Parliament election, the Five Star Movement placed third, obtaining less than 10% of the vote, a result considered disappointing by Giuseppe Conte.<ref>{{cite news|last=Carratelli|first=Niccolò|title=Delusione per Conte: “Avvieremo una riflessione interna”. Pesa l’astensionismo al Sud|url=https://www.lastampa.it/speciale/esteri/elezioni-europee-2024/2024/06/10/news/delusione_per_conte_partito_in_calo_astensionismo_al_sud-14377312/|newspaper=La Stampa|date=10 June 2024}}</ref>

===The constituent assembly and the break with Grillo=== In November 2024, Giuseppe Conte called a constituent assembly in which party members were called to vote on a series of points, including placement, alliances, the abolition of the two-term limit and the abolition of the role of guarantor, held by Beppe Grillo. The final phase of the constituent assembly was held from 23 to 24 November through a kermesse called "Nova".<ref>{{cite news|title=M5s lancia 'Nova', il titolo della kermesse del 23 e 24 novembre|url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/politica/2024/11/04/m5s-lancia-nova-il-titolo-della-kermesse-del-23-e-24-novembre_34a1bc90-d2c4-4287-8d14-17ec1b53c45b.html|publisher=Ansa}}</ref> The outcome of the vote saw the consensus for the abolition of the guarantor prevail, thus sanctioning a break between the movement and its co-founder.<ref>{{cite news|title=Italy's opposition 5-Star breaks with co-founder Grillo|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/italys-opposition-5-star-breaks-with-co-founder-grillo-2024-11-24/|publisher=Reuters|date=24 November 2024}}</ref> Grillo, exercising one of his powers provided for by the party statute, thus asked for a repeat of the vote,<ref>{{cite news|title=Beppe Grillo ha chiesto di ripetere il voto sull’abolizione del garante e sugli altri quesiti approvati dagli iscritti del M5S|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2024/11/25/beppe-grillo-ripetizione-voto-iscritti-m5s-garante/|publisher=Il Post|date=25 November 2024}}</ref> which was held on 8 December. However, the second vote also confirmed the outcome of the first vote, thus definitively abolishing the office held by Grillo.<ref>{{cite news|title=Voto M5s, Grillo sconfitto (di nuovo) nelle urne: gli iscritti dicono Sì all’eliminazione del garante. Affluenza in crescita|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2024/12/08/m5s-risultati-voto-modifiche-statuto-grillo-conte-quorum/7796566/|newspaper=Il Fatto Quotidiano|date=8 December 2024}}</ref>

==Ideology== The M5S was conceived as a post-ideological movement,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Mosca|first1=Lorenzo|last2=Tronconi|first2=Filippo|date=19 September 2019|title=Beyond Left and Right: The Eclectic Populism of the Five Star Movement|journal=West European Politics|volume=42|issue=6|pages=1258–1283|doi=10.1080/01402382.2019.1596691|s2cid=182265350}}</ref> within the context of post-modern politics,<ref>{{cite book|last=Lanzone|first=Maria Elizabetta|chapter=The 'Post-Modern' Populism in Italy: The Case of the Five Star Movement|editor-last1=Woods|editor-first1=Dwayne|editor-last2=Wejnert|editor-first2=Barbara|title=Many Faces of Populism: Current Perspectives|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HmKtBAAAQBAJ|year=2014|publisher=Emerald Group Publishing|isbn=978-1-78350-257-8}}</ref> and has been described as anti-establishment,<ref>{{cite news|last=Dinmore|first=Guy|work=Financial Times|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ac527eb2-d5ce-11e3-a017-00144feabdc0.html|title=Italy's Beppe Grillo battles to sustain anti-establishment message|date=8 May 2014|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Brett|first1=William|last2=Gamble|first2=Andrew|last3=Tomkiewicz|first3=Jacek|chapter=The Political Economy of Change in a Time of Political Crisis|editor-last1=Eatwell|editor-first1=John|editor-last2=Petit|editor-first2=Pascal|editor-last3=McKinley|editor-first3=Terry|title=Challenges for Europe in the World, 2030|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EHWUBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA313|year=2014|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|isbn=978-1-4724-1925-5|page=313}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Kickert|first1=Walter|last2=Randma-Liiv|first2=Tiina|title=Europe Managing the Crisis: The Politics of Fiscal Consolidation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OkLLCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA263|year=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-52570-7|page=263}}</ref> environmentalist,<ref>{{cite news|last=Keating|first=Dave|date=5 March 2018|title=On Energy, Italy's Five Star Movement Could Rock The Boat |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davekeating/2018/03/05/on-energy-italys-five-star-movement-could-rock-the-boat/|access-date=6 September 2019 |work=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hooper|first=John|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/15/five-star-movement-italy|title=Parliamentary gridlock in Italy as Five Star Movement refuses to make deal|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=14 May 2015|date=15 March 2013}}</ref> and populist.<ref>{{cite book|last=Viola|first=Donatella M.|title=Routledge Handbook of European Elections|chapter=Italy|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7stgCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA113|year=2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-50363-7|page=113}}</ref> It has promoted left-wing issues, such as a basic income and green-inspired policies,<ref>{{cite book|last=Gerbaudo|first=Paolo|chapter=Populism 2.0: Social media activism, the generic Internet user and interactive direct democracy|editor-last1=Fuchs|editor-first1=Christian|editor-last2=Trottier|editor-first2=Daniel|title=Social Media, Politics and the State: Protests, Revolutions, Riots, Crime and Policing in the Age of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E28KBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA76|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-65548-0|pages=76–77}}</ref> and has been compared to the anti-austerity movement in Spain, Pirate parties, and Occupy Wall Street.<ref name="Ballatore & Natale 2014"/> From 2014 to 2019, the M5S also supported some right-wing policies, especially on immigration,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/04/23/news/di_maio_saviano_ong-163704617/|title=Migranti, Di Maio: 'Ipocrita chi difende le ong'. Replica Saviano: 'Cerca voti di chi li vuole morti'|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=23 April 2017|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2019/05/11/news/di_maio_deluso_dal_decreto_sicurezza_nulla_sui_rimpatri_-225988747/|title=Di Maio: 'Deluso dal decreto sicurezza, nulla sui rimpatri'|work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=11 May 2019|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> and has been described as a New Right or right-wing party,<ref>{{cite book|last=Shiratori|first=Hiroshi|chapter=Cost of Democracy: Changing Aspects of Modern Democracy|editor-last=Magara|editor-first=Hideko|title=Policy Change Under New Democratic Capitalism|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8TIlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA48|year=2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|page=48|isbn=978-1-315-46944-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/333369.italiens-lega-legt-in-umfragen-zu.html?sstr=rechte%7Cf%C3%BCnf%7Csterne|title=Italiens Lega legt in Umfragen zu|date=31 May 2018|newspaper=Junge Welt|language=de|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> or also compared to the post-war populism of Guglielmo Giannini's Common Man's Front.<ref name="CeccariniNewell2019">{{cite book|editor1= James L. Newell|editor2=Luigi Ceccarini|author1=Luigi Ceccarini|author2=James L. Newell|chapter=Introduction: The Paradoxical Election|title=The Italian General Election of 2018: Italy in Uncharted Territory|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BJ6SDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6|year=2019|publisher=Springer International Publishing|isbn= 978-3-03-013617-8|page=6}}</ref> Additionally, it has been variously described as anti-globalist,<ref>{{cite book|last=Torsello|first=Davide|title=The New Environmentalism?: Civil Society and Corruption in the Enlarged EU|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtKhAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA130|year=2013|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|isbn=978-1-4094-9511-6|page=130}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/01/europe/five-star-movement-italy-intl/index.html|title=The maverick populists striking fear into Italy's mainstream parties|first=Hilary|last=Clarke|date=1 March 2018|website=CNN|access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Reeder|first=Linda|title=Italy in the Modern World: Society, Culture and Identity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=62-1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA262|year=2020|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-350-00519-8|page=262}}</ref> anti-immigration,<ref>{{cite book|last=McManus|first=Matthew|title=The Rise of Post-Modern Conservatism: Neoliberalism, Post-Modern Culture, and Reactionary Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qSmsDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA199|year=2020|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn=978-3-030-24682-2|page=199}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Lyons|first=John L.|title=Globalization and the Neoliberal Schoolhouse: Education in a World of Trouble|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0cy8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA33|year=2020|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-41360-3|page=33}}</ref> big tent,<ref name="Rone 2018">{{cite journal|last=Rone|first=Julia|title=Contested international agreements, contested national politics: how the radical left and the radical right opposed TTIP in four European countries|journal=London Review of International Law |year=2018|volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=233–253 |publisher=University of Cambridge|doi=10.1093/lril/lry018}}</ref><ref name="Alfanini & Fontan 2021">{{cite journal|last1=Altafini|first1=Claudio|last2=Fontan|first2=Angela|year=2021|title=A signed network perspective on the government formation process in parliamentary democracies|journal=Scientific Reports |volume=11 |issue=1 |page=5134 |doi=10.1038/s41598-021-84147-3|pmid=33664333 |pmc=7933210 |bibcode=2021NatSR..11.5134F }}</ref> Eurosceptic,<ref>{{cite book|editor=Tom Lansford|title=Political Handbook of the World 2013|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lUF1AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA716|year=2013|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4522-5825-6|page=716}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hussain|first=Munir|title=The European Union: On the Verge of Global Political Leadership|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jtXBDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA96|year=2016|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-981-10-2884-7|page=96}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Jungar|first=Ann-Catherine|chapter=Repercussions of right-wing populism for European integration|editor-last1=Bernitz|editor-first1=Ulf|editor-last2=Mårtensson|editor-first2=Moa|editor-last3=Oxelheim|editor-first3=Lars|editor-last4=Persson|editor-first4=Thomas|title=Bridging the Prosperity Gap in the EU: The Social Challenge Ahead|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W1RMDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA60|year=2018|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing|isbn=978-1-78643-667-2|page=60}}</ref> and pro-Russian.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fomina|first=Joanna|chapter=The Emerging European Public Sphere in the Far of Russia's Information War|editor=Malgorzata Winiarska-Brodowska|title=In Search of a European Public Sphere: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=30bhDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA70|year=2020|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-52-754874-9|page=70}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Gabriele Cosentino|title=Social Media and the Post-Truth World Order: The Global Dynamics of Disinformation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cyfXDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA47|year=2020|publisher= Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-03-043005-4|page=47}}</ref> Its members stress that the M5S is not a party but a movement, and the five stars in the name and logo are a reference to five key issues for the party, among them the common good, integral ecology, social justice, technological innovation, and a green economy. The M5S has promoted e-democracy,<ref>{{cite news |last=Mazzini |first=Silvia |title=Can Beppe Grillo's internet democracy work? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/08/can-beppe-grillo-internet-demo-2014823124259908116.html |access-date=6 September 2019 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref> direct democracy,<ref name="Casaleggio 2018">{{cite news|last=Casaleggio|first=Davide|title=Opinion – A top leader of Italy's Five Star Movement: Why we won |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/03/19/five-star/|access-date=6 September 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=19 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/en/2012/06/the_citizen_in_power.html|title=The Citizen in Power|website=Beppe Grillo|access-date=18 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618155520/http://www.beppegrillo.it/en/2012/06/the_citizen_in_power.html|archive-date=18 June 2012}}</ref> the principle of "zero-cost politics",<ref name="Zero-Cost Politics"/> degrowth,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lafucina.it/2013/11/20/la-denuncia-di-latouche-vogliono-delegittimare-grillo-e-il-m5s/|title=La denuncia di Latouche: 'Vogliono delegittimare Grillo e il M5S'|website=LaFucina|language=it|date=20 November 2013|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019165358/http://www.lafucina.it/2013/11/20/la-denuncia-di-latouche-vogliono-delegittimare-grillo-e-il-m5s/|archive-date=19 October 2014}}</ref> and nonviolence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pressenza.com/it/2013/04/grillo-il-movimento-5-stelle-e-la-nonviolenza/|title=Grillo, il Movimento 5 stelle, e la Nonviolenza|publisher=Pressenza|access-date=25 June 2014|date=11 April 2013}}</ref> Grillo himself once provocatively referred to the movement as populist.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/10/30/grillo-confessione-a-porte-chiuse-napolitano-sotto-accusa-e-finzione-politica/760888/|title=Grillo, confessione a eletti M5S: 'Finzione politica l'impeachment di Napolitano'|work=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|access-date=14 May 2015|date=30 October 2013}}</ref> More recently, the party has been described as progressive.<ref name="Mulino"/><ref name="auto1"/>

In the M5S, themes are derived from ecology and anti-particracy, promoting the direct participation of citizens, who converge in the management of public affairs through forms of digital democracy, such as e-democracy. The movement wants to be a "democratic encounter outside of party and associative ties and without the mediation of directive or representational organisms, recognizing to all users of the Internet the role of government and direction that is normally attributed to a few".<ref name=utopia>[http://www.beppegrillo.it/en/2011/06/the_5_star_movement_between_ut.html The 5 Star MoVement between Utopia and reality] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928170523/http://www.beppegrillo.it/en/2011/06/the_5_star_movement_between_ut.html |date=28 September 2017 }}. Beppe Grillo's Blog (2011-06). Retrieved 3 January 2014.</ref> From the economic point of view, it embraces the theories of degrowth, supporting the creation of "green jobs", and the rejection of polluting and expensive "great works", including incinerators and high-speed rail, aiming for an overall better quality of life and greater social justice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schiavazzi |first1=Vera |title=La Fiom strizza l'occhio ai grilliniL'idea: fare una lista degli scontenti |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2012/08/20/news/la_fiom_strizza_l_occhio_ai_grillini_l_idea_fare_una_lista_degli_scontenti_di_vera_schiavazzi-41217103/ |work=La Repubblica |date=20 August 2012}}</ref> The M5S proposes the adoption of large-scale energy projects, elimination of waste, sustainable mobility, protection of territory from overbuilding, and remote work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/iniziative/movimentocinquestelle/Programma-Movimento-5-Stelle.pdf |title=Movimento Programma |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |language=it |access-date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502000943/http://www.beppegrillo.it/iniziative/movimentocinquestelle/Programma-Movimento-5-Stelle.pdf |archive-date=2 May 2012 }}</ref> The movement's political discourse often refers to the Internet as a solution to many social, economic, and environmental problems. This approach bears similarities with North American cyber-utopianism and the Californian Ideology.<ref name="Ballatore & Natale 2014">{{cite journal|last1=Ballatore|first1=Andrea|last2=Natale|first2=Simone|date=1 January 2014|url=http://eprints.maynoothuniversity.ie/4698/1/2014-Natale_and_Ballatore-The_Web_will_kill_them_all.pdf|title=The Web Will Kill Them All: New Media, Digital Utopia, and Political Struggle in the Italian 5-Star Movement|journal=Media, Culture & Society|volume=36|issue=1|pages=105–121|doi=10.1177/0163443713511902|s2cid=73517559|issn=0163-4437}}</ref>

In December 2024, during the party's constituent assembly, its members voted to declare themselves "independent progressives", abolish the limit of two terms for its elects, eliminate the role of party's guarantor (held by Grillo), introduce a law on ''fine vita'' (euthanasia), legalise cannabis, progressively abolish cash, improve public healthcare, continue the ecological transition, and create a common European army. The definition of "independent progressives" was voted by 36.7% of participants, while the other options were "no positioning" (26.2%), "progressive force" (22.1%), "left-wing force" (11.5%) and no vote (3.4%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Come cambierà il Movimento 5 Stelle |url=https://pagellapolitica.it/articoli/movimento-5-stelle-risultati-assemblea-costituente |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Pagella Politica |language=it}}</ref> During the assembly, the party invited Sahra Wagenknecht of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance to give a speech.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-24 |title=Si chiude Nova, Conte intervista Wagenknecht e dice: "Dirsi progressisti, spartiacque fondamentale" |url=https://www.rainews.it/articoli/2024/11/si-chiude-nova-conte-intervista-wagenknecht-e-dice-dirsi-progressisti-spartiacque-fondamentale-37ccfdbb-0f36-4c82-ab06-0c66416515de.html |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=RaiNews |language=it}}</ref> "The "progressive" label has been questioned by some Italian politicians due to Sahra Wagenknecht's invitation, along with the ambiguities of current and past issues,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-26 |title=M5S: Magi, svolta non chiara. Progressismo più ambiguo che indipendente |url=https://www.piueuropa.eu/m5s_magi_svolta_non_chiara_progressismo_pi_ambiguo_che_indipendente |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=+Europa |language=it}}</ref> and Conte continued to define the party as "not left-wing".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-05 |title=M5s torna a votare, fino a domenica. Conte: "Siamo progressisti ma non di sinistra" |url=https://tg.la7.it/politica/m5s-conte-voto-05-12-2024-227500 |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=TGLA7 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Romoli |first=David |date=2024-12-10 |title=M5s, Conte stravince e minaccia Beppe Grillo: "Il simbolo non si tocca, non siamo di sinistra" |url=https://www.unita.it/2024/12/10/m5s-conte-stravince-e-minaccia-beppe-grillo-il-simbolo-non-si-tocca-non-siamo-di-sinistra/ |access-date=2024-12-10 |website=L'Unità |language=it-IT}}</ref>

===Direct democracy=== The movement bases its principles on direct democracy as an evolution of representative democracy. The idea is that citizens will no longer delegate their power to parties, which are considered to be old and corrupted intermediates between the state and themselves, that serve the interests of lobby groups and financial powers. They will succeed only by creating a collective intelligence made possible by the Internet.<ref name="utopia"/>

To go in this direction, the M5S chose its Italian and European parliamentary candidates through online voting by registered members of Grillo's blog.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnston |first=Alan |title=Italy protest party makes waves |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20643620 |access-date=6 September 2019 |publisher=BBC |date=7 December 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.france24.com/en/20121211-2012-12-11-2050-wb-en-webnews/ Italy's 5-Star Movement holds online vote to pick candidates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521235609/http://www.france24.com/en/20121211-2012-12-11-2050-wb-en-webnews/ |date=21 May 2014 }}. France 24.com (21 May 2014). Retrieved 24 August 2013.</ref> Through an application called Rousseau reachable on the web,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sistemaoperativom5s.beppegrillo.it/ |title=M5S Operating System |publisher=Sistemaoperativom5s.beppegrillo.it |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624102002/https://sistemaoperativom5s.beppegrillo.it/ |archive-date=24 June 2014 }}</ref> the registered users of M5S discuss, approve, or reject legislative proposals submitted then in Parliament by the M5S group. As an example, the M5S electoral law was shaped through a series of online votes,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europaquotidiano.it/2014/05/19/la-legge-elettorale-dei-cinquestelle-con-il-nostro-testo-si-puo-votare-domani/ |title=Ecco la legge elettorale del M5S preannunciata da Casaleggio |publisher=Europaquotidiano.it |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619022040/http://www.europaquotidiano.it/2014/05/19/la-legge-elettorale-dei-cinquestelle-con-il-nostro-testo-si-puo-votare-domani/ |archive-date=19 June 2014 }}</ref> like the name of the M5S candidate for President of Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/postit/specialepresidentedellarepubblica/2013/04/23/Quirinarie-M5s-Rodota-oltre-4mila-voti_8599047.html |title=Quirinarie di M5s, per Rodotà 4.677 voti |publisher=Ansa.it |date=20 April 2013 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> The choice to support the abolition of a law against immigrants was taken online by members of the M5S, even if the final decision was against the opinions of Grillo and Casaleggio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/14_gennaio_13/grillo-lancia-consultazioni-reato-clandestinita-dissidenti-politica-non-sia-videogame-b474ad60-7c49-11e3-bc95-3898e25f75f1.shtml |title=Grillo, gli iscritti del M5S dicono no al reato di immigrazione clandestina |work=Corriere della Sera |date=13 January 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> The partnership with the UK Independence Party was also decided by online voting, although the given options for the choice of European Parliament group for M5S were limited to Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD), European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), and to stay independent (Non-Inscrits). The option of joining the Greens/EFA group was discussed, but this option was not available at the time of the voting due to that group's prior rejection of the M5S.<ref name="Nielsen"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/06/12/m5s-consultazioni-online-per-alleanze-in-europarlamento-verdi-esclusi/1024386/|title=Alleanze Europarlamento, M5S esclude i Verdi dalle consultazioni: 'Troppi veti' |date=12 June 2014 |publisher=ilfattoquotidiano.it/ |access-date=8 February 2016}}</ref>

===Internet=== Andrea Ballatore and Simone Natale wrote about how digital utopianism plays a pivotal role in M5S's worldview, saying that Grillo and Casaleggio describe the web as a "transparent, unified, coherent entity", with its own logic, laws, agency and disruptive agenda. They say that the web, which acts as a mythical panacea, can, and wants to cure the social and economic ills of Italy, leading the nation towards a more prudent future. They also say that the web is described as a "supermedium", which will significantly change all political, social, informational, and organisational processes.<ref name="Ballatore & Natale 2014"/> Roberto Biorcio says that Grillo used the internet as a way for widespread dissemination of their politics consisting of two elements. The first is the idea that the people can express their feelings of ''vaffanculo'', which literally translates as "fuck you", or "fuck off", aimed at the entirety of the political class. This was at the same time an attempt to transform protest into legitimate political action, as they gathered 450,000 signatures for three legislative initiatives created to promulgate a "clean parliament".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Biorcio|first=Roberto|date=2 January 2014|title=The reasons for the success and transformations of the 5 Star Movement|journal=Contemporary Italian Politics|volume=6|issue=1|pages=37–53|doi=10.1080/23248823.2014.884376|s2cid=143532735|issn=2324-8823}}</ref> Eric Turner stipulates that despite the Internet being promoted by Grillo as horizontal and without hierarchy, many people in Italy critique that claim as being deceiving. He quotes blogger Massimo Mantetellini by saying that the mass comments and posts created by the M5S actually create confusion and allows a top-down modality in which the leaders do not follow their own ideas and principles.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Turner|first=Eric|date=November 2013|url=https://www.interfacejournal.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Interface-5-2-Turner.pdf|title=The 5 Star Movement and Its Discontents: A Tale of Blogging, Comedy, Electoral Success and Tensions|journal=Interface: A Journal for and About Social Movements|volume=5|issue=2|pages=178–212|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>

===Environmental, economic, and social issues=== The M5S has roots in environmentalism, as well as a left-wing stance on some major social issues. Fabio Bordignon states that the very first battles of Grillo's people had their roots relating to but not exclusively environmentalism and renewable energy, the problems of poverty and precarious employment, the battles against the power of big business and the effects of globalisation, and the morality of the political sphere and civil rights. He goes on to say that roughly about 10–15% of the laws proposed over the years are dedicated to the environment alone.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bordignon|first1=Fabio|last2=Ceccarini|first2=Luigi|s2cid=154403724|date=8 August 2015|title=The Five-Star Movement: a hybrid actor in the net of state institutions|journal=Journal of Modern Italian Studies|volume=20|issue=4|pages=454–473|doi=10.1080/1354571x.2015.1066112|issn=1354-571X}}</ref> Paolo Natale says that in the first years of the party's major success around 2012, the M5S was made up of mainly younger generations of people, and for the most part males who had received high levels of education as well as having left-wing political stances. He states that these people were searching for alternative ways of participating in politics besides the regular scheme of what existed, and especially to achieve good administration, high-quality public transport, and green spaces, but with sensitivity to problems linked to local crime.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Natale|first=Paolo|date=2 January 2014|title=The Birth, Early History and Explosive Growth of the Five Star Movement|journal=Contemporary Italian Politics|volume=6|issue=1|pages=16–36|doi=10.1080/23248823.2014.886418|issn=2324-8823|s2cid=144496176}}</ref>

To exemplify how the M5S ranks among other parties for social and environmental stances for the 2013 general election, Nicolò Conti created a chart using poll data, the various parties' individual manifestos, and how these preferences interacted and translated into a policy space that the parties contested. His results were that the M5S ranks first among other parties in welfare spending expansion, environmental protection, and market regulation, where welfare expansion meant the expansion of public social services and excludes education, environmental protection meant policies in favour of preserving/conserving the environment, and market regulation meant policies designed to create an equitable and open economic market.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Conti|first1=Nicolò|last2=Memoli|first2=Vincenzo|s2cid=154887960|date=13 January 2015|title=The Emergence of a New Party in the Italian Party System: Rise and Fortunes of the Five Star Movement|journal=West European Politics|volume=38|issue=3|pages=516–534|doi=10.1080/01402382.2014.996377|issn=0140-2382}}</ref>

===Anti-corruption=== One of the most important rules of M5S is that politics is a temporary service; no one who has already been elected twice at any level (local or national) can be a candidate again and has to return to their original job.<ref name="utopia"/> Another feature of the movement is the so-called "zero-cost politics",<ref name="Zero-Cost Politics">{{cite web|url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/en/2010/05/zero_cost_politics_1.html|title=Zero-Cost Politics|publisher=Beppegrillo.it|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105193130/http://www.beppegrillo.it/en/2010/05/zero_cost_politics_1.html|archive-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> according to which politics must not become a career and way to make money. Belonging to the movement requires the self-reduction of the salaries of the citizens elected.<ref>[http://trasparenza.emiliaromagna5stelle.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4 Movimento 5 Stelle Emilia-Romagna - Trasparenza - Ci siamo autoridotti lo stipendio]. Trasparenza.emiliaromagna5stelle.it (31 December 2012). Retrieved 24 August 2013. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817163805/http://trasparenza.emiliaromagna5stelle.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4 |date=17 August 2013 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ilmessaggero.it/primopiano/politica/sicilia_grillo_movimento_5_stelle_rimborsi_elettorali/notizie/231761.shtml Grillo, gli eletti del M5S in Sicilia restituisconi i rimborsi ma sbagliano cifra - Il Messaggero]. ''Il Messaggero''. Retrieved 24 August 2013. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117001814/http://www.ilmessaggero.it/primopiano/politica/sicilia_grillo_movimento_5_stelle_rimborsi_elettorali/notizie/231761.shtml |date=17 November 2012 }}</ref> The movement also rejects campaign contributions. In the 2012 regional elections, the Sicilian wing of the M5S decided to allocate the money saved by the reduction of the salaries of their elected to a fund for microcredit to help small and medium enterprises.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sicilia, i deputati regionali del Movimento 5 Stelle restituiscono lo stipendio |url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/01/08/sicilia-deputati-regionali-del-movimento-5-stelle-restituiscono-stipendio/464707/ |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=8 January 2013 |language=it-IT}}</ref> In the 2013 general election, the M5S stated to have rejected over €42 million of public electoral refunds,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2013/03/il_m5s_rinuncia_ai_rimborsi_elettorali.html |title=Il M5S rinuncia a 42.782.512,50 euro |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=11 March 2013 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022001432/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2013/03/il_m5s_rinuncia_ai_rimborsi_elettorali.html |archive-date=22 October 2013 }}</ref> supporting its expenses for the campaign with crowdfunding through the blog.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=M5S, le spese dello Tsunami Tour online. Ma i nomi dei sostenitori non ci sono |url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2013/04/11/m5s-spese-dello-tsunami-tour-online-raccolti-774mila-euro/559311/ |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=11 April 2013 |language=it-IT}}</ref>

To be M5S candidates, citizens must not have a criminal record.<ref name="utopia"/> The party also supports initiatives to ban politicians with criminal records from being elected. Among the greater political battles of M5S is the ethical commitment to a greater simplicity and transparency to counter the practice of holding two or more positions,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.piacenzasera.it/politica-cittadina/interrogazione-del-m5s-contro-i-doppi-incarichi.jspurl?IdC=1144&IdS=1476&tipo_padre=0&tipo_cliccato=0&id_prodotto=24216&tipo=0&css=ho&com=c |title=PiacenzaSera |publisher=Piacenzasera.it |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002201832/http://www.piacenzasera.it/politica-cittadina/interrogazione-del-m5s-contro-i-doppi-incarichi.jspurl?IdC=1144&IdS=1476&tipo_padre=0&tipo_cliccato=0&id_prodotto=24216&tipo=0&css=ho&com=c }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://messaggeroveneto.gelocal.it/cronaca/2012/10/23/news/i-grillini-sfidano-i-partiti-via-i-doppi-incarichi-1.5913492 |title=I grillini sfidano i partiti 'Via i doppi incarichi' - Cronaca - Messaggero Veneto |publisher=Messaggeroveneto.gelocal.it |date=23 October 2012 |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-date=22 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022014951/http://messaggeroveneto.gelocal.it/cronaca/2012/10/23/news/i-grillini-sfidano-i-partiti-via-i-doppi-incarichi-1.5913492 }}</ref> which show the intricate conflicts of interest between any organisation, subsequently strengthened by public register,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.24emilia.com/Sezione.jsp?idSezione=35500 |title=Regione ER, sě all'anagrafe pubblica degli eletti e dei nominati |publisher=24Emilia.com |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002150835/http://www.24emilia.com/Sezione.jsp?idSezione=35500 |archive-date=2 October 2013 }}</ref> as a way to avoid centralisations that are nepotistic and clientelistic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2011/10/il_movimento_5_stelle_contro_il_nepotismo.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Il MoVimento 5 Stelle contro il nepotismo |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615115705/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2011/10/il_movimento_5_stelle_contro_il_nepotismo.html |archive-date=15 June 2013 }}</ref>

===Same-sex marriage=== On 15 July 2012, Grillo publicly expressed his support for same-sex marriage,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2012/07/15/news/grillo_apre_alle_nozze_gay_e_attacca_la_bindi_non_ha_mai_avuto_problemi_con_il_vero_amore-39099261/|title=Grillo ora apre alle nozze gay: 'Pd farisei' E Di Pietro rilancia proposta di legge Idv |work=La Repubblica |language=it|date=15 July 2022|access-date=28 October 2012}}</ref> when the subject was discussed in the PD's National Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ilsussidiario.net/News/Politica/2012/7/14/ASSEMBLEA-PD-Il-partito-si-spacca-sui-matrimoni-gay-Bindi-contro-Concia/302133/ |title=Assemblea PD/ Il partito si spacca sui matrimoni gay, Bindi contro Concia |website=Il Sussidiario |language=it |date=14 July 2012 |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-date=7 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607002039/http://www.ilsussidiario.net/News/Politica/2012/7/14/ASSEMBLEA-PD-Il-partito-si-spacca-sui-matrimoni-gay-Bindi-contro-Concia/302133/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In offering his support to marriage between homosexual citizens, Grillo broke his silence on the subject; some observers had speculated he opposed same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite web |last=Quaranta|first=Pasquale|url=http://www.gay.tv/news/attualita/beppe-grillo-e-diritti-gay-un-silenzio-assordante/ |title=Beppe Grillo E Diritti Gay: Un Silenzio Assordante |publisher=Gay.tv |language=it|date=13 April 2007 |access-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303203214/http://www.gay.tv/news/attualita/beppe-grillo-e-diritti-gay-un-silenzio-assordante |archive-date=3 March 2013 }}</ref>

On 28 October 2014, an online referendum took place among the activists of the M5S on the recognition of same-sex civil partnerships, in which 21,360 voted in favour and 3,908 voted against. <ref>{{cite news|title=M5S dice sì a unioni gay: 'Dagli attivisti un plebiscito'|url=http://www.adnkronos.com/fatti/politica/2014/10/28/dice-unioni-gay-dagli-attivisti-plebiscito_I9796M51AIsH350IxjlrOI.html|magazine=Adnkronos|language=it|date=28 October 2014|access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> In February 2016, the M5S decided not to officially back the proposal of recognition of stepchild adoption for same-sex civil partnerships, refusing to take an official stand, and gave its parliamentarians freedom to vote their conscience on the matter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2016/02/si_alle_unioni_civili_liberta_di_coscienza_per_la_stepchildadoption.html|title=Sì alle unioni civili, libertà di coscienza per la #StepchildAdoption|website=Blog di Beppe Grillo|language=it|access-date=22 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314135805/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2016/02/si_alle_unioni_civili_liberta_di_coscienza_per_la_stepchildadoption.html|archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref>

The M5S supports the DDL Zan, an anti-homophobia law, which failed to pass in 2020. In the aftermath, the M5S defended itself from accusations by Italia Viva.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pagellapolitica.it/articoli/chi-ha-ucciso-il-ddl-zan|title=Chi ha ucciso il ddl Zan?|website=Pagella Politica|language=it|date=29 October 2021|access-date=28 October 2022}}</ref> On 31 March 2022, Senator Alessandra Maiorino introduced a bill to legalise same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Carboni |first1=Kevin |title=Al Senato arriva un disegno di legge sul matrimonio egualitario |url=https://www.wired.it/article/matrimonio-egualitario-disegno-legge-senato-diritti-lgbt/ |magazine=Wirez |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407115203/https://www.wired.it/article/matrimonio-egualitario-disegno-legge-senato-diritti-lgbt/ |archive-date=7 April 2022 |language=it|date=1 April 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===No alliances=== Grillo's campaign has an unwillingness to form alliances as a result of his refusal to be associated or characterised like any of the older political families including the centre-left and centre-right coalitions. As the government itself is made up of both centre-left and centre-right coalition parties, the M5S has had difficulties coming to an agreement with any of the other parties in both 2013 and 2018, where a supportive alliance between the M5S and the centre-left coalition was discussed in both election before leading to different outcomes. Despite the different views within the party, the issues on which the movement agrees keep the party intact through advocating the main five principles of the M5S.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bordignon & Ceccarini|first1=Fabio & Luigi|s2cid=154403724|title=The Five-Star Movement: a hybrid actor in the net of state institutions|journal=Journal of Modern Italian Studies|volume=20|issue=4|pages=454–473|doi=10.1080/1354571X.2015.1066112|year=2015}}</ref> A Tecné poll in the aftermath of the 2018 Italian general election suggested that 56% of M5S voters preferred a government coalition between M5S and the League. A coalition between the M5S and the centre-right coalition as a whole was preferred by only 4%. 22% preferred a coalition between the M5S, the centre-left coalition led by the Democratic Party (PD), and the left-wing Free and Equal (LeU). A technocratic government was only supported by 1% of the M5S's voters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sondaggipoliticoelettorali.it/|title=Gli scenari all'indomani delle elezioni politiche|website=Sondaggi Politico Elettorali|publisher=Tecné|language=it|date=5 April 2018|access-date=28 October 2022}}</ref>

Since the formation of the left-leaning government with the PD and LeU, the M5S opened up to alliances with the centre-left coalition, such as for local and regional elections. This, among other factors, reflected poorly in opinion polling for the 2022 Italian general election, which saw a decline for the M5S in the immediate months after the election and fell to third place since the 2019 European Parliament election,<ref name="Downes & Palma 2020"/> to single digit-polls before the campaign. 2023 could have been the first alliance at the national level with the PD and the centre-left coalition but the fall of the Draghi government, to which both the M5S and PD belonged as national unity, caused a rift in July 2022 and led to snap elections on 25 September. As the PD blamed it on the M5S as an attempt to gain ground in the polls, while the M5S criticised the PD for not moving on from Draghi, it led to the breakdown of talks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/07/21/campo-largo-in-macerie-letta-m5s-difficile-ricomporre-e-lancia-la-campagna-elettorale-andate-sui-media-a-dire-chi-e-il-colpevole/6691684/|title=Campo largo in macerie. Letta: 'M5s? Difficile ricomporre'. E lancia la campagna elettorale: 'Andate sui media a dire chi è il colpevole'|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=21 July 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/07/21/conte-e-il-campo-largo-il-m5s-e-una-forza-progressista-spetta-al-pd-fare-le-sue-scelte-su-draghi-dice-anche-grillo-e-sconcertato/6697683/|title=Conte e il campo largo: 'Il M5s è una forza progressista, spetta al Pd fare le sue scelte'. Su Draghi dice: 'Anche Grillo è sconcertato'|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=21 July 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2022/08/13/il-campo-largo-dal-centro-ai-5-stelle-due-punti-sopra-la-destra-il-sondaggio-riservato-del-pd/6761782/|title='Il campo largo dal centro ai 5 stelle due punti sopra la destra': il sondaggio riservato del Pd. 'Fi e FdI calano, pentastellati risalgono al 13%'|website=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=13 August 2022|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref> Ultimately, the lack of alliance between the centre and the left, including an electoral law favouring coalitions, led to the win for the centre-right coalition.<ref name="Kirby 2022"/><ref name="Horowitz 2022"/>

===Immigration=== The M5S's position on immigration has been ambiguous. On 23 December 2016, Grillo wrote in his blog that all illegal immigrants should be expelled from Italy, that the Schengen Agreement should be temporarily suspended in the event of a terrorist attack until the threat has been removed, and that there should be revision of the Dublin Regulation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/english/news/politics/2016/12/23/grillo-calls-for-mass-deportations-2_c2583737-0f97-4157-a2f3-d2a9137728b6.html | title=Grillo calls for mass deportations| date=23 December 2016|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2016/12/23/grillo-terrorismo-migrant_n_13813082.html |title=Beppe Grillo chiede 4 misure per proteggere l'Italia dal 'viavai dei terroristi'. Subito via gli irregolari e stop a Schengen |date=23 December 2016 |access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref> On 21 April 2017, Grillo published a piece questioning the role non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating rescue ships off Libya are playing in the migrant crisis, asking where are they getting their money, and strongly suggesting they may be aiding traffickers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2017/04/21/italia-primo-paese-in-europa-per-la-concessione-della-cittadinan_a_22049129/ | title=Sul blog di Grillo attacco alle ong che soccorrono i migranti: 'Ruolo oscuro, da dove prendono i soldi?'| date=21 April 2017|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref> On 5 August 2017, Luigi Di Maio, who led the M5S in the 2018 general election, called for "an immediate stop to the sea-taxi service" bringing migrants to Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-migrants-medecins-sans-frontier-idUSKBN1AL0HZ?il=0 | title=Italian prosecutors widen investigation to include MSF over migrant rescues: source| newspaper=Reuters| date=5 August 2017|access-date=6 August 2017}}</ref>

During their 2018–2019 government with the League, the M5S approved Matteo Salvini's anti-immigration degrees, for which their future government allies, the PD, which had opposed it, criticised when the M5S declared themselves to be part of the progressive pole and to the left of the PD during the 2022 campaign.<ref>{{cite web|last=Casadio|first=Giovanna|date=1 September 2022|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/09/01/news/letta_pd_elezioni_m5s-363663628/|title=Letta sferza il M5S: 'Progressisti non ci si inventa'|work=La Repubblica|language=it|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref> During their government with the PD in 2019–2021, the decrees were partially abolished. Conte later claimed credit, when he first signed the law, for having moderated and made them less extreme than they originally were at the time, and criticised them in an interview to the ''Corriere della Sera'', blaming them on Salvini.<ref>{{cite news|date=30 August 2021|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2021/08/30/conte-decreti-sicurezza/|title=Conte ha criticato i 'decreti sicurezza' del governo Conte|work=Il Post|language=it|access-date=28 October 2022}}</ref> In August 2022, Conte fully disowned the League.<ref>{{cite news|last=Magnani|first=Niccolò|date=30 August 2022|url=https://www.ilsussidiario.net/news/conte-rinnega-decreti-sicurezza-fallimento-salvini-n-1-m5s-smentisce-se-stesso/2214880/|title=Conte rinnega decreti sicurezza: 'fallimento Salvini'/ N.1 M5s smentisce... se stesso|work=Il Sussidario|language=it|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>

===Rhetoric=== On 28 January 2014, Giorgio Sorial, a deputy of the M5S, accused President Giorgio Napolitano of being a hangman who repressed opponents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2014/01/28/news/il_deputato_5s_napolitano_boia-77117252/ |title=Il grillino Sorial: 'Napolitano boia'. Il M5 sotto attacco, ma si divide |work=la Repubblica |date=28 January 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2014/01/28/italia/politica/deputato-ms-choc-napolitano-boia-e-annuncia-la-messa-in-stato-di-accusa-FlZzDA2sLHbMuI5s43arJP/pagina.html |title=La Stampa Cinque Stelle choc: 'Napolitano boia' Ira Letta. Renzi: stupidità senza eguali |work=La Stampa |date=28 January 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Prime Minister Enrico Letta immediately defended President Napolitano, charging the M5S with being extremists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agi.it/politica/notizie/attacco-frontale-a-napolitano-br-/m5s-e-un-boia-impeachmentbr- |title=Ultime Notizie Online | AGI |publisher=Agi.it |access-date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225041035/http://www.agi.it/politica/notizie/attacco-frontale-a-napolitano-br-/m5s-e-un-boia-impeachmentbr- |archive-date=25 February 2014 }}</ref> The following day, Angelo Tofalo, another deputy of the M5S, ended his speech in the Chamber of Deputies by shouting ''Boia chi molla!'' ("Hangman the one who gives up!") a famous motto used during the Italian Fascist era.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espresso.repubblica.it/palazzo/2014/01/29/news/m5s-dopo-napolitano-boia-boia-chi-molla-alla-camera-1.150375 |title=M5s, nuovo caso dopo Napolitano boia 'Boia chi molla' del deputato alla Camera |work=la Repubblica |date=29 January 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/01/31/m5s-i-nuovi-resistenti-che-urlano-boia-chi-molla/864671/ |title=M5S: i nuovi resistenti che urlano 'Boia chi molla' |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=31 January 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> The M5S members, especially its leader Beppe Grillo, have been accused of being too vulgar and verbally violent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2013/12/09/blog-beppe-grillo-attacca-il-pd_n_4411738.html |title=Blog Beppe Grillo attacca il Pd con un video violento e volgare. 'Due euro per farsi prendere per il c... ancora' |publisher=Huffingtonpost.it |date= 9 December 2013|access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2012/11/30/news/salsi_grillo_violento-47764776/ |title=Salsi: Grillo è violento è cattivo con le persone - Bologna - Repubblica.it |work=la Repubblica |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>

A M5S demonstration inside the Chamber of Deputies against a law approved by the government, which happened in January 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/movimento-5-stelle-beppe-grillo/bagarre-alla-camera-il-gesto-volgare-del-deputato-m5s/154232/152734 |title=Bagarre alla Camera: il gesto volgare del deputato M5S|work=la Repubblica|language=it|date=29 January 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/14_gennaio_30/i-grillini-occupano-commissione-giustizia-altra-giornata-caos-porte-chiuse-lavori-fermi-d8f214de-898c-11e3-be5b-d457abaa7165.shtml |title=Blitz 5 Stelle, occupazione alla Camera Boldrini: 'Sono violenti, presto sanzioni' |work=Corriere della Sera |date=30 January 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> caused a brawl between the M5S, the centrist Civic Choice, the right-wing Brothers of Italy, and the centre-left Democratic Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://video.repubblica.it/dossier/movimento-5-stelle-beppe-grillo/rissa-camera-alessandra-moretti-insulti-sessisti-da-deputato-m5s/154252/152754 |title=Rissa Camera, Alessandra Moretti: ''Insulti sessisti da deputato M5s'' - Repubblica Tv - la Repubblica.it |work=la Repubblica |date=30 January 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Following insults to the president of the Chamber of Deputies Laura Boldrini,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/politica/2014/02/01/M5S-Grasso-sdegno-insulti-sessisti-Boldrini_10000472.html |title=Boldrini, minacce ci sono perché clima surriscaldato - Politica |publisher=ANSA.it |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Italian journalist Corrado Augias stated on 31 January 2014 that the violence used by the M5S reminded him of fascism.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/02/01/augias-su-di-battista-e-m5s-tutto-ridotto-a-slogan-fascismo-parti-cosi/263856/ |title=Augias su Di Battista e M5S: 'Tutto ridotto a slogan. Fascismo partì così' |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=February 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-date=9 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709085912/http://tv.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2014/02/01/augias-su-di-battista-e-m5s-tutto-ridotto-a-slogan-fascismo-parti-cosi/263856/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following day, a militant activist of the M5S burned some of Augias's books and uploaded the photos to his Facebook profile because according to him "Augias offended the movement".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2014/02/02/foto/augias_dopo_gli_attacchi_di_grillo_al_rogo_il_suo_libro-77502179/1/?ref=search#1 |title=Augias, dopo gli attacchi di Grillo al rogo il suo libro |work=la Repubblica |date=2 February 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> This episode was readily taken up by major national newspapers and heavily criticised by public opinion due to some similarities with Nazi book burnings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/14_febbraio_03/augias-rogo-libri-5-stelle-c5f9910a-8cb5-11e3-b3eb-24c163fe5e21.shtml |title=Augias, i 5 Stelle e l'eterno spettro del rogo dei libri |work=Corriere della Sera |date=3 February 2014 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Grillo criticised the action, saying the person who uploaded the photos did not represent the movement.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Movement 5 Stars loves books and repudiates violence|url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2014/02/il_movimento_5_stelle_ama_i_libri_e_ripudia_la_violenza.html|publisher=Beppe Grillo's Blog|access-date=6 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222043924/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2014/02/il_movimento_5_stelle_ama_i_libri_e_ripudia_la_violenza.html|archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref>

In the 2018 general campaign, the M5S said that they would not have given public money to banks.<ref>{{cite news|title=italy-can-t-isolate-its-naughty-|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=4 January 2019 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-01-04/italy-can-t-isolate-its-naughty-bankers|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> In 2019, the M5S–League coalition government gave its consent to the possible bailout of Banca Carige's debt, consisting of an amount of up to 1.6 billion dollars, to compensate bondholders and shareholders. The M5S had previously criticised a similar bailout of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena approved by the Paolo Gentiloni's centre-left government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Italy's Populist Revolution Is Gone in 480 Seconds|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=9 January 2019 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-01-09/italy-s-populist-revolution-fails-over-carige-bank-rescue|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref>

===European affiliation=== About the politics of the European Union and the euro, the M5S has often been highly critical but ambiguous. On 12 June 2014, having been rejected by the Greens/EFA,<ref>{{cite web|last=Nielsen |first=Nikolaj |url=http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124495 |title= Greens reject Beppe Grillo's offer to team up |date=5 June 2014 |publisher=EUobserver |access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref> and also by ALDE,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alde.eu/nc/press/press-and-release-news/press-release/article/alde-response-to-the-seven-conditions-of-the-movimento-5-stelle-43004/ |title=Press Release |publisher=ALDE |date=27 January 2014 |access-date=10 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129103727/http://www.alde.eu/nc/press/press-and-release-news/press-release/article/alde-response-to-the-seven-conditions-of-the-movimento-5-stelle-43004/ |archive-date=29 January 2016 }}</ref> the M5S offered its activists a limited-choice online referendum to choose a parliamentary group for the party. 78% of participating activists voted for the Eurosceptic EFDD.<ref name=eo/><ref name="rep_efdd">{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2014/06/12/news/m5s_blog_grillo_si_vota_su_alleanze_ue-88731934/ |title=Alleanze in Europa, il M5S sceglie l'Ukip di Farage. Ma la base accusa: votazione pilotata |publisher=Repubblica.it |date=12 June 2014 |access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref>

In January 2017, the M5S tried to change its group inside the European Parliament, moving from the EFDD to the ALDE. Despite an initial agreement, ALDE leader Guy Verhofstadt refused the M5S' admission to the group due to insufficient guarantees to come to a common position on European integration.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/01/09/news/m5s_europarlamento_alde-155680742/|title=M5s, Parlamento Ue: salta il passaggio a eurogruppo Alde. Verhofstadt: 'Poche garanzie'|newspaper=la Repubblica|date=9 January 2017}}</ref> The attempted move caused a chilling of relations with EFDD leader Nigel Farage, who was not informed about the M5S' agreement with the ALDE.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ilpost.it/2017/01/09/grillo-europa-alde/|title=Il pasticcio del M5S al Parlamento europeo|newspaper=il Post|date=9 January 2017}}</ref> Grillo was critical of the rejection and blamed "the establishment" for preventing them joining the ALDE.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bresolin|first=Marco|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2017/01/09/italia/politica/esclusivo-saltato-laccordo-tra-ms-e-alde-QIUqvYM5UNoxQUlgF7tTYM/pagina.html|title=È saltato l'accordo tra M5S e Alde|newspaper=La Stampa|date=9 January 2017}}</ref> On 9 January, the Radio Radicale news correspondent David Carretta published documents about the financial and political benefits which would have accrued to the M5S for its admission to ALDE on Twitter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carretta|first=David|url=https://twitter.com/davcarretta/status/818451360395956225|title=Soldi, posti e voti: ecco l'accordo prematrimoniale sulla roba tra Verhofstadt e Grillo|publisher=Twitter|date=9 January 2017}}</ref>

In December 2017, Di Maio stated that he supported a referendum for Italy to leave the eurozone and would vote to leave.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zapperi|first=Cesare|url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/17_dicembre_18/di-maio-renzi-euro-scontro-referendum-7d355ba8-e3fe-11e7-8530-b320f0c560cc.shtml|title=M5S, Di Maio: voterei per l'uscita dall'euro. Renzi: follia per l'economia|newspaper=Corriere della Sera|date=18 December 2017}}</ref> He rejected his previous position in January 2018,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iltempo.it/politica/2018/01/09/news/di-maio-fa-dietrofront-non-e-piu-il-momento-di-uscire-dall-euro-1043904/|title=Di Maio fa dietrofront: 'Non è più il momento di uscire dall'euro'|newspaper=Il Tempo|date=9 January 2018}}</ref> refusing the idea of a referendum on the euro, which cannot be done by constitution and was previously strongly supported by the movement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Biondi|first=Adriano|date=19 December 2017|title=La vera storia del referendum per uscire dall'euro del M5s, da priorità a 'extrema ratio'|url=https://www.fanpage.it/la-vera-storia-del-referendum-per-uscire-dall-euro-del-m5s-da-priorita-a-extrema-ratio/|website=fanpage.it}}</ref> In February 2018, Di Maio stated that "European Union is the Five Star Movement's home".<ref>{{cite news|last=Salvatori|first=Pietro|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2018/02/06/luigi-di-maio-rottama-la-politica-estera-a-5-stelle_a_23354144/|title=Luigi Di Maio torna a casa Europa e rottama la politica estera a 5 stelle|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=6 February 2018}}</ref> In September 2019, Di Maio confirmed that the goal was to change Europe from the inside.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://quifinanza.it/editoriali/di-maio-cambiare-europa-rimanendo-in-ue-ed-euro/305184/|title=Di Maio: 'Cambiare l'Europa rimanendo in UE ed euro'|date=2 September 2019|access-date=27 October 2019|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128114852/https://quifinanza.it/editoriali/di-maio-cambiare-europa-rimanendo-in-ue-ed-euro/305184/}}</ref> In November 2021, the party discussed switching to the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Capati|first=Andrea|date=1 November 2021|title=The Italian Five Star Movement takes a pro-European turn|url=https://theloop.ecpr.eu/the-italian-five-star-movement-takes-a-pro-european-turn/|access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Vasques|first=Eleonora|date=10 November 2021|title=Discussion over Italy's Five Star Movement joining S&D heats up|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8baustrian-mep-karas-wants-to-become-eu-parliaments-next-president/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=Euractiv}}</ref>

Following the 2024 European Parliament election, after the failed attempt to create a new group with the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance,<ref>{{cite web|title=New EU left group fails, Wagenknecht party blames ‘majority groups’|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/new-eu-left-group-fails-wagenknecht-blames-majority-groups/|website=Euractiv\date=3 July 2024}}</ref> in July 2024, the M5S applied to join The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=3 July 2024 |title=Il M5s presenta richiesta ingresso nel gruppo Sinistra al Parlamento europeo |url=https://www.ansa.it/europa/notizie/rubriche/altrenews/2024/07/03/il-m5s-presenta-richiesta-ingresso-nel-gruppo-sinistra-al-parlamento-europeo_ee06a7db-4d90-4d49-8aa5-2dbac8079f66.html |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=Agenzia ANSA |language=it}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web |last1=Ahmatović |first1=Šejla |last2=Wax |first2=Eddy |date=3 July 2024 |title=Italy's 5Star Movement asks to join Left group in European Parliament |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-5star-movement-party-asks-to-join-left-group-in-european-parliament-giuseppe-conte/ |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=Politico}}</ref> The M5S was initially admitted into The Left group with reservations, that is, for a six-month trial period with the status of "observer".<ref>{{cite news|title=M5S ammesso “con riserva” nell’eurogruppo di sinistra: periodo di prova di sei mesi. Ma ora Conte teme la fronda interna contraria all’accordo|url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2024/07/04/news/ms5_ammesso_europarlamento_sinistra_sei_mesi_prova-423362089/|newspaper=La Repubblica|date=4 July 2024}}</ref> On 4 February 2025, the M5S was finally permanently integrated into The Left group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Movimento 5 Stelle permanently integrated into The Left in the European Parliament|url=https://left.eu/movimento-5-stelle-permanently-integrated-into-the-left-in-the-european-parliament/|website=The Left in the European Parliament|date=4 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=5 Star Movement in the Left Group in the EU Parliament, now final. Tridico: “Firm commitment”|url=https://www.eunews.it/en/2025/02/04/5-star-movement-in-the-left-group-in-the-eu-parliament-now-final-tridico-firm-commitment/|website=Eunews|date=4 February 2025}}</ref>

==Organisation==

===Symbols=== <gallery> MoVimento 5 Stelle Logo vettoriale.svg|2009–2015 Movimento5s.svg|2015–2018 Five Star Movement.svg|2018–2021 M5S logo 2050.svg|2021–present </gallery>

===Leadership=== ====Leaders==== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; border:1px #AAAAFF solid" |- !colspan="3"|Name (born–died) !Term start !Term end !Duration |- !colspan=7|President |- |style="background: {{party color|Five Star Movement}};"|'''1''' |90px |'''Beppe Grillo''' (born 1948) |4 October 2009 |23 September 2017 |{{age in years and days|4 October 2009|23 September 2017}} |- !colspan=7|Political leader |- |style="background: {{party color|Five Star Movement}};"|'''2''' |90px |'''Luigi Di Maio''' (born 1986) |23 September 2017 |22 January 2020 |{{age in years and days|23 September 2017|22 January 2020}} |- !colspan=7|Political leader ''ad interim'' |- |style="background: {{party color|Five Star Movement}};"|'''–''' |90px |'''Vito Crimi''' (born 1972) |22 January 2020 |6 August 2021 |{{age in years and days|22 January 2020|6 August 2021}} |- !colspan=7|President |- |style="background: {{party color|Five Star Movement}};"|'''3''' |90px |{{nowrap|'''Giuseppe Conte'''}} (born 1964) |6 August 2021 |''Incumbent'' |{{age in years and days|6 August 2021|}} |}

====Vice Presidents==== *Paola Taverna (senior, 2021–present) *Michele Gubitosa (2021–present) *Riccardo Ricciardi (2021–2026) *Alessandra Todde (2021–2023) *Mario Turco (2021–present) *Chiara Appendino (2023–2025) *Vittoria Baldino (2026–present) *Ettore Licheri (2026–present) *Stefano Patuanelli (2026–present)

====Guarantor==== *Beppe Grillo (2017–2024)

====Committee of Trustees==== *Luigi Di Maio (2021–2022) *Roberto Fico (2021–present) *Virginia Raggi (2021–present) *Laura Bottici (2022–present)

====Parliamentary leaders==== * Leader in the Chamber of Deputies: three-month rotation (2013–2018), Giulia Grillo (2018), Francesco D'Uva (2018–2019), Francesco Silvestri (2019), Davide Crippa (2019–2022), Francesco Silvestri (2022–2025), Riccardo Ricciardi (2025–present) * Leader in the Senate of the Republic: three-month rotation (2013–2018), Danilo Toninelli (2018), Stefano Patuanelli (2018–2019), Gianluca Perilli (2019–2020), Ettore Licheri (2020–2021), Mariolina Castellone (2021–2022), Barbara Floridia (2022–2023), Stefano Patuanelli (2023–present) * Leader in the European Parliament: three-month rotation (2014–2019), Tiziana Beghin (2019–2024), Pasquale Tridico (2024–present)

=== Structure === The party has been characterised as an entrepreneurial party.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hloušek |first1=Vít |last2=Kopeček |first2=Lubomír |last3=Vodová |first3=Petra |title=The Rise of Entrepreneurial Parties in European Politics |date=21 April 2020 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-3-030-41916-5 |page=182 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rJneDwAAQBAJ&q=five%20star}}</ref> During the 2010 Italian regional elections, some parties highlighted a contradiction between the voluntary collective action in the struggles of civil society and openness in political representation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2010/aprile/02/Grillo_stop_Magistris_non_tocchi_co_9_100402031.shtml |title=Grillo, stop a De Magistris: non tocchi il mio movimento |work=Corriere della Sera |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2011/03/eletti_liberi_e_belli/index.html |title=Eletti, liberi e belli- Blog di Beppe Grillo |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=28 February 2011 |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117153814/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2011/03/eletti_liberi_e_belli/index.html |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2011/03/comprereste_un/index.html |title=Comprereste un voto usato da quest'uomo?- Blog di Beppe Grillo |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117121324/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2011/03/comprereste_un/index.html |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref> Also in 2010, there were tensions between the movement and Italy of Values.<ref>{{cite web|author=Di Carmine Saviano |url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2010/06/24/news/grillini-5117802/ |title=Una "fedelissima" contro Grillo E continua la tensione con l'Idv |work=la Repubblica |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>

thumb|230px|Grillo (on the right) with Giovanni Favia (on the left), who was expelled from the M5S in 2011 In March 2012, Valentino Tavolazzi, a city councillor in Rimini, advocated a national meeting on behalf of the movement,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2010/04/movimento_5_ste_2/index.html |title=MoVimento 5 Stelle Emilia Romagna: il punto dopo le elezioni- Blog di Beppe Grillo |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=22 April 2010 |access-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308132519/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2010/04/movimento_5_ste_2/index.html |archive-date=8 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gazzettadimodena.gelocal.it/cronaca/2010/04/22/news/beppe-grillo-espelle-ballestrazzi-1.333914 |title=Beppe Grillo espelle Ballestrazzi - Cronaca - Gazzetta di Modena |publisher=Gazzettadimodena.gelocal.it |date=22 April 2010 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514114228/http://gazzettadimodena.gelocal.it/cronaca/2010/04/22/news/beppe-grillo-espelle-ballestrazzi-1.333914 }}</ref> which gathered about 150 participants. At the meeting, there was both praise and criticism from the participants including from the few politicians who were present.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2012/03/rimini_per_noi.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Rimini per noi |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=4 March 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615100330/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2012/03/rimini_per_noi.html |archive-date=15 June 2013 }}</ref> The meeting took a harsh stance on the "conditions of Regulation M5S" because it was discovered to be in conflict with the statutes of its Civic Party of origin Project for Ferrara. In response, they lost the use of the logo,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2012/03/valentino_tavolazzi.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Valentino Tavolazzi |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=5 March 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209224210/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2012/03/valentino_tavolazzi.html |archive-date=9 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2012/03/05/news/grillo_caccia_consigliere_comunale_non_ha_capito_il_nostro_spirito-30986481/?ref=search |title=Grillo caccia consigliere comunale 'Non ha capito il nostro spirito' |work=La Repubblica|language=it|date=5 March 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> and were banned from taking any position on behalf of M5S, which was portrayed as a controversial move regarding internal democracy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2012/03/consiglieri_ano.html |title=Blog di Beppe Grillo - Consiglieri Anonimi |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |date=3 March 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615121224/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2012/03/consiglieri_ano.html |archive-date=15 June 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tavolazzi: 'Caro Beppe Grillo, a espellermi hai fatto un errore gravissimo'|url=https://www.linkiesta.it/it/article/2012/03/05/tavolazzi-caro-beppe-grillo-a-espellermi-hai-fatto-un-errore-gravissim/10887/ |access-date=6 September 2019 |work=Linkiesta |date=5 March 2012 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Giulia Zaccariello |url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2012/03/10/movimento-stelle-spaccato-obiettivo-ridimensionare-grillo/196194/ |title='Grillo non può espellere nessuno'. 5 Stelle divisi sul ruolo del leader |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=30 December 2011 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>

Since 2007, Grillo has criticised the cost of politics by supporting the reduction of payment for deputies and senators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/movimento/codice_comportamento_parlamentare.php |title=MoVimento |publisher=Beppegrillo.it |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Based on this policy, the benefits received by members of parliament would not exceed €5,000 gross per month, with any surplus returned to the state with solidarity allowance, also called end-term; however, according to Giovanni Favia, the regional director of the M5S, the deduction of €5,000 gross salary of parliamentarians is contrary to the principles of the movement as it would result in a reduction of only €2,500 net. In an interview published in several newspapers in November 2012, Favia estimated at €11,000 per month the fees prescribed for a member of M5S. The article does not explain how Favia got to deduct that amount because it necessarily includes reimbursements and per diem is not flat as costs and expenses which vary from member to member.<ref>{{cite web|author=Redazione Il Fatto Quotidiano |url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2012/11/27/stipendi-5-stelle-favia-critica-grillo-tagli-irrisori-per-nostri-deputati-3000-euro/428510/ |title=Stipendi 5 Stelle, Favia critica Grillo: 'Tagli irrisori, 3000 euro di stipendio bastano' |work=Il Fatto Quotidiano |date=27 November 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>

Following the expulsion of Favia and Federica Salsi for expressing views about the lack of internal democracy, the party has expelled several members for criticism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Serafini |first=Marta |date=12 December 2012 |title=Grillo caccia dal M5s Favia e Salsi |url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/12_dicembre_12/a-giovanni-favia-e-salsi-ritirato-logo-movimento-cinque-stelle_1e5e2710-4442-11e2-a26e-c89e7517e938.shtml |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=Corriere della Sera |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2012-12-12/niente-dissenso-grillo-espelle-115756.shtml?uuid=AbklfKBH |title=Niente dissenso: E Grillo espelle dal M5S gli "eretici" Salsi e Favia |publisher=Il Sole 24 ORE |date= 12 December 2012|access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> The expulsions were made unilaterally by Grillo; as per regulation, they took place without prior consultation with members of the movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2012/12/12/news/grillo_caccia_favia_e_salsi_dal_movimento_5_stelle-48579921/?ref=HREA-1 |title=Grillo caccia Favia e Salsi dal Movimento 5 Stelle |work=la Repubblica |date=12 December 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2012/12/12/news/m5s_grillo-48580195/ |title=Grillo 'scomunica' Favia e Salsi L'eletta: 'Peggio che nei vecchi partiti' |work=la Repubblica |language=it|date=12 December 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Emanuele Buzzi |url=http://www.corriere.it/politica/12_dicembre_14/bufera-grillini-logo_7c9ac632-45b7-11e2-9abc-e1073f0961e6.shtml |title=Bufera sui grillini Avvocati in campo per l'uso del logo |work=Corriere della Sera |date=14 December 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Another criticism frequently made by the same movement activists and former activists, such as Federico Pistono, social entrepreneur, author of ''Robots Will Steal Your Job, but That's OK'', and former member,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_aa7f40ba01014fy3.html |title=Interview with Federico, author of 'Robots Will Steal Your Job, but That's OK' |date=21 December 2012 |publisher=Sina Corp|access-date=22 May 2013}}</ref> is about the absence of any form of effective participation on the web.<ref>{{cite web |last=Guerrera|first=Riccardo |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/listeciviche/forum/2013/01/grillo-casaleggio-dove-il-portale-promesso-abbiamo-aspettato-3-anni-almeno-dateci-una-data-di-rilasc.html |title=Grillo, Casaleggio, dov'è il Portale promesso ??? Abbiamo aspettato 3 anni !!! Almeno dateci una data di rilascio ufficiale !!! – Forum |website=Blog di Beppe Grillo |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111638/http://www.beppegrillo.it/listeciviche/forum/2013/01/grillo-casaleggio-dove-il-portale-promesso-abbiamo-aspettato-3-anni-almeno-dateci-una-data-di-rilasc.html |archive-date=24 December 2013 }}</ref> There is a tool for collective writing of the program and the proposed laws, but the forum is considered inadequate for the purpose.<ref>{{cite web |author=Riccardo Guerrera |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/listeciviche/forum/2013/01/salviamo-il-movimento-5-stelle-quello-vero-by-federico-pistono.html |title=Aiutiamo il Movimento 5 Stelle! Vogliamo una piattaforma di collaborazione Wiki – Forum |publisher=BeppeGrillo.it |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213215222/http://www.beppegrillo.it/listeciviche/forum/2013/01/salviamo-il-movimento-5-stelle-quello-vero-by-federico-pistono.html |archive-date=13 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://daily.wired.it/news/politica/2013/02/19/m5s-airesis-40321.html |title=Movimento 5 Stelle, la piattaforma che sostituisce LiquidFeedback |publisher=Daily.wired.it |date=19 February 2013 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Through his blog in September 2012, Grillo said that a portal to participate via the web was already under construction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beppegrillo.it/2012/09/portale_5_stelle.html |title= Portale 5 Stelle |website=Blog di Beppe Grillo –|date=19 September 2012 |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412115103/http://www.beppegrillo.it/2012/09/portale_5_stelle.html |archive-date=12 April 2013 }}</ref> The triggering was scheduled for the end of 2012; at the time of the 2013 general election, it was not yet realised. Through what became known as the Rousseau platform, which is not owned by the M5S, activists were able to vote on several questions including on confidence votes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mari|first=Laura|date=8 April 2021 |title=M5S, addio a Rousseau: dalla prossima settimana il Movimento lavorerà a una sua piattaforma |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/04/08/news/m5s_l_ultimatum_di_rousseau_entro_il_22_aprile_i_parlamentari_grillini_saldino_i_debiti_altrimenti_pronti_a_un_percorso_-295541497/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=La Repubblica |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=12 April 2021 |title=I problemi tra il Movimento 5 Stelle e Rousseau, spiegati |url=https://www.ilpost.it/2021/04/12/problemi-movimento-5-stelle-rousseau-casaleggio-spiegati/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=Il Post |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mari|first=Laura|date=4 June 2021 |title=M5S, Casaleggio lascia il Movimento: 'Nemmeno mio padre lo riconoscerebbe. Se si cerca legittimazione in tribunale la democrazia interna è fallita' |url=https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2021/06/05/news/m5s_rousseau_dati-304277205/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=La Repubblica |language=it}}</ref>

== Splinter parties == Since its entry into Parliament, the M5S has broken up into several breakaway parties:<ref>{{cite web |date=25 June 2022 |title=Movimento 5 stelle, la scissione di Di Maio è la più grande di sempre? |url=https://quifinanza.it/editoriali/video/scissione-di-maio-grande-sempre-movimento-5-stelle/653817/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=QuiFinanza |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=18 July 2022 |title=Scissioni, espulsioni e addii: M5s dimezzato in 4 anni in Parlamento |language=it |work=Il Sole 24 Ore |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/scissioni-espulsioni-e-addii-m5s-dimezzato-4-anni-parlamento-AEp1O4mB |access-date=27 October 2022}}</ref> * Italy Work in Progress (2014) * X Movement (2014) * Free Alternative (2015) * Italy in Common (2018) * Team K (2018) * Italexit (2020) * Alternative (2021) * Together for the Future (2022)

==Election results== {{main|Electoral history of the Five Star Movement}} {{Graph:Chart |width=300 |type=rect |colors=#FFEb3B |xAxisTitle=Elections (Chamber of Deputies and European Parliament) |xAxisAngle=-40 |x=2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 |yAxisMin=0 |yAxisFormat=% |yAxisTitle=% of popular vote |y=0.256, 0.212, .0, .0, .0, 0.327, 0.171, .0, .0, 0.154 }}

=== Italian Parliament === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" | Election ! rowspan="2" | Leader ! colspan="5" | Chamber of Deputies ! colspan="5" | Senate of the Republic |- ! Votes !! % !! Seats !! +/– !! Position !! Votes !! % !! Seats !! +/– !! Position |- ! 2013 | Beppe Grillo | 8,691,406 | 25.6 | {{composition bar|109|630|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | – | {{steady}} 1st | 7,285,850 | 23.8 | {{composition bar|54|315|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | – | {{steady}} 2nd |- ! 2018 | Luigi Di Maio | 10,732,066 | 32.7 | {{composition bar|227|630|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | {{increase}} 119 | {{steady}} 1st | 9,733,928 | 32.2 | {{composition bar|112|315|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | {{increase}} 58 | {{increase}} 1st |- ! 2022 | Giuseppe Conte | 4,333,972 | 15.4 | {{composition bar|52|400|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | {{decrease}} 175 | {{decrease}} 3rd | 4,285,894 | 15.6 | {{composition bar|28|200|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | {{decrease}} 85 | {{decrease}} 3rd |}

=== European Parliament === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! Election ! Leader ! Votes ! % ! Seats ! +/– ! EP Group |- ! 2014 | Beppe Grillo | 5,807,362 (2nd) | 21.2 | {{composition bar|17|73|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | New | EFDD |- ! 2019 | Luigi Di Maio | 4,569,089 (3rd) | 17.1 | {{composition bar|14|76|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | {{decrease}} 3 | ''NI'' |- ! 2024 | Giuseppe Conte | 2,336,452 (3rd) | 10.0 | {{composition bar|8|76|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} | {{decrease}} 6 | The Left |}

===Regional Councils=== {|class=wikitable style="border:1px #AAAAFF solid" |- !width=150px|Region !width=100px|Election year !width=100px|Votes !width=100px|% !width=100px|Seats !width=50px|+/− !width=100px|Status in legislature |- !Aosta Valley !2025 |3,359 (8th) | 5.56 (in ''Open Aosta Valley'') |{{composition bar|0|35|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"| - | style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats |- !Piedmont !2024 |99,806 (7th) |6.04 |{{composition bar|3|51|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 2 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Lombardy !2023 |113,229 (8th) |3.93 |{{composition bar|3|80|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 10 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !South Tyrol !2023 |2,086 (13th) |0.74 |{{composition bar|0|35|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 1 | style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats |- !Trentino !2023 |4,523 (13th) |1.95 |{{composition bar|0|35|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 2 | style="background:#ddd; text-align:center"| No seats |- !Veneto !2025 |36,866 (7th) |2.20 |{{composition bar|1|50|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"| - | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Friuli-Venezia Giulia !2023 |9,486 (7th) |2.40 |{{composition bar|1|49|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 3 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Emilia-Romagna !2024 |53,075 (8th) |3.55 |{{composition bar|1|50|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 1 | {{yes2|Majority}} |- !Liguria !2024 |25,659 (9th) |4.56 |{{composition bar|1|31|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 1 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Tuscany !2025 |55,158 (8th) |4.34 |{{composition bar|2|40|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{increase}} 1 | {{yes2|Majority}} |- !Marche !2025 |28,836 (6th) |5.08 |{{composition bar|1|31|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 2 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Umbria !2024 |15,125 (6th) |4.71 |{{composition bar|1|21|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|– | {{yes2|Majority}} |- !Lazio !2023 |132,041 (3rd) |8.54 |{{composition bar|4|51|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 6 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Abruzzo !2024 |40,629 (6th) |7.01 |{{composition bar|2|31|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 5 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Molise !2023 |10,044 (6th) |7.10 |{{composition bar|3|21|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 3 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Campania !2025 |183,333 (4th) |9.12 |{{composition bar|6|50|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 1 | {{yes2|Majority}} |- !Apulia !2025 |95,963 (7th) |7.22 |{{composition bar|4|50|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 1 | {{yes2|Majority}} |- !Basilicata !2024 |20,026 (6th) |7.66 |{{composition bar|2|21|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 1 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Calabria !2025 |48,775 (7th) |6.43 |{{composition bar|1|31|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 1 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Sicily !2022 |254,974 (3rd) |13.64 |{{composition bar|11|70|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{decrease}} 9 | {{no2|Opposition}} |- !Sardinia !2024 |51.129 (3rd) |7.77 |{{composition bar|8|60|hex={{party color|Five Star Movement}}}} |style="text-align: center"|{{increase}} 2 | {{yes2|Majority}} |}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist|2}} {{notelist}}

==Further reading== * Bigi Alessandro, Bonera Michelle, Bal Anjali (2015) ''Evaluating political party positioning over time: a proposed methodology.'' Journal of Public affairs, DOI: 10.1002. * {{cite book |first=Rosanna|last=De Rosa|title=Voice of the People or Cybercratic Centralism? The Italian case of Beppe Grillo and Movimento Cinque Stelle|publisher=Edition Donau-Universität Krems|year=2013|pages=89–102}} * {{cite book |first=Maria Elisabetta|last=Lanzone|title=The "Post-Modern" Populism in Italy: The Case of the Five Star Movement|publisher=Emerald Group|year=2014|pages=53–78}} * {{cite book |first=Francesca|last=Musiani|title=Avant-garde: Digital Movement or "Digital Sublime" Rhetoric? The Movimento 5 Stelle and the 2013 Italian Parliamentary Elections|publisher=Springer|year=2014|pages=127–140}} * {{cite book |first1=Øystein|last1=Sæbø|first2=Alession Maria|last2=Braccini|first3=Tommaso|last3=Federici|title=From the Blogosphere into Real Politics: The Use of ICT by the Five Star Movement|publisher=Springer|year=2015|pages=241–250}} * {{cite book |first=Filippo|last=Tronconi|title=Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement. Organisation, Communication and Ideology|url=https://www.routledge.com/Beppe-Grillos-Five-Star-Movement-Organisation-Communication-and-Ideology/Tronconi/p/book/9781472436634|publisher=Ashgate|date=2015|isbn=978-1-4724-3663-4}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Movimento 5 Stelle}} * {{official website|https://www.movimento5stelle.eu/}}

Category:Five Star Movement Category:2009 establishments in Italy Category:Anti-corruption parties Category:Direct democracy parties Category:E-democracy Category:Environmentalism in Italy Category:Political parties established in 2009 Category:Political parties in Italy Category:Political parties supporting universal basic income Category:Populist parties Category:Syncretic political movements Category:Green political parties in Italy