Last Friday evening I was invited to attend a meeting between some of Beppe Grillo’s 5 Star Movement’s newly elected MPs. Here’s an article on what went on and how I found the event.
Italy’s RAI television channel had sent a camera crew and a reporter, but neither the crew nor the microphone wielding reporter were allowed into the hall in which the meeting was held. I was.
It was not that the 5 Star Movement was trying to hide anything. The meet the citizens event was transmitted via web streaming and others were photographing and videoing the meeting too. I tweeted while the event was in progress. I asked for permission to do this and was told, thanks for asking, but you did not need to. That’s the second time 5 Star Movement members have told me this. So much for it being secretive.
Two of the 5 Star Movement’s MPs – Paola Carinelli and Manlio di Stefano – turned up to talk to Milan’s citizens and to participate in a question and answer session. Despite the weather being wets, and the fact it was a Friday night, the hall in council offices in Via Tibaldi in Milan filled up and some of those who came found standing room only. The atmosphere was positive and I was struck by the age of the audience – both young and old were there.
For parliamentary newbies, Paola Carinelli and Manlio di Stefano handled the meeting very well – conversing with those in attendance and not dictating to them at all. Neither displayed any airs or graces and both simply want Italy to work properly. They certainly seemed to be down to earth people to me and this impression was confirmed later on when I joined the 5 Star Activists for a, wait for it, kebab!
I used notes I took during the meeting as a basis for this report.
The two new 5 Star Movement MPs are under press pressure and have been receiving both congratulatory and offensive Facebook comments and emails. They are aware that the future of Italy is in their hands.
One of the 5 Star Movement MPs stated that a Google group may be set up for the exchange of ideas within the movement and that a public internet portal would be set up to allow Italy’s citizens to participate more actively in politics. This is in line with the 5 Star Movement’s wish to install a system of participatory democracy in Italy.
Next, mention was made of a very hot Italian potato – the public funding of Italy’s political parties which has been abused and the 5 Star Movement wants to abolish. Indeed, the new 5 Star Movement MPs are trying to understand how to give the money to which they are entitled under Italian law back to Italy. This is, they explained, is not easy, seeing as it’s not been done before!
On the subject of the meeting itself, the Grillo MPs stated that they want to meet the people once a month, although this will depend a lot on their parliamentary commitments.
The Question and Answer Session
After a short introduction, the question and answer session began. Each person was given a minute to make their points and ask questions.
Here are some of the questions which were asked:
- One person explained he was not web savvy and asked if some system for people like him to be set up so they could follow what is going on and to give non-web users a voice.
The answer was that regular meetings such as the one being held in that moment would be used to address this problem.
It does sound a little as if the 5 Star Movement needs to give a little more thought to this issue, although one of the things it wants to do is to connect as many Italians to the www as possible. The connected can then communicate with the non-connected.
- Another question, or rather a statement was a confirmation that the anti corruption laws & electoral reform, as contained in the 5 Star Movement program, needed to be implemented as soon as possible and the point was made that Italy needed a government.
In response to this, the 5 Star Movement MPs stated that they would not form a government if doing so meant joining forces with the political parties it believes need removing from Italian politics once and for all.
- Another question or rather request was for Italy to be changed soon as Italy really does need revolutionary change. The person speaking made the point that if did not change, it would go even further downhill.
The 5 Star Movement MPs responded that their movement is a revolution, a cultural and social revolution.
- “What is Grillo’s Plan B if Italy’s old guard digs in?”, was another question.
The reply was that the 5 Star Movement MPs would continue to push for its policies.
- There was a question about forming alliances with other parties.
In response the 5 Star Movement MPs said the movement will be more than happy to support proposals which match their own objectives and would also be happy to provide support for any other proposals which is regarded ad being constructive and beneficial for Italy’s future.
- A young man asked about how the 5 Star Movement MPs would help Italy’s economy back on its feet.
The reply mentioned the citizens’ income proposal which the movement feels will help start things moving. Other proposals were being worked on, the MPs confirmed.
- Another person suggested that the 5 Star Movement was causing Italy’s political, social & economic rules to be rewritten.
The reply was that many still have not understood how powerful the movement is. Indeed, having spoken to a few 5 Star Movement members who were in attendance, that does seem to be the case. People see the 5 Star Movement as a force for real change.
- An older woman asked about Euro referendum stated that she did not think Italy should leave the Euro. She commented that she’d like to see a federal Europe. She also asked who the 5 Star Movement might choose as a new president of Italy and suggested Emma Bonino – the suggestion was not well received by others in the audience. Bonino, while quite well respected, is seen as part of the political cast which has failed to govern Italy properly for decades.
By way of a reply, the 5 Star Movement MPs replied that the movement does not intend to take Italy out of the Euro – unless it decides doing so would be best for Italy. The movement wants more information on the Euro situation and instead of taking Italy out of the Euro, may renegotiate Italy’s role as a partner in Europe.
- A member of the public asked for clearer communication on the part of the 5 Star Movement.
The Grillo movement MP said its program is its message. Indeed, the program is quite clear as to what the moment wants to achieve. Maybe the person asking the question was not that adept in the use of the web?
- Another person asked if 5 Star Movement can have media trained spokesmen.
The reply to this was that only 5 Star Movement leaders are authorized to speak to Italy’s media because of the level of media dictatorship and manipulation which exists in Italy. From what I’ve seen, this seems to be a sensible stance. One of the 5 Star Movement’s MPs described one incident in which media coverage of him speaking had been distorted by reversing the running order of some of his statements. Creative editing?
- “How is Grillo going to fund the citizens’ wage?”, asked another audience member.
That is explained on Facebook, came the reply. Actually, according to some estimates, the citizens’ wage, which would resemble the UK’s social security payments and similar systems in other nations, would probably cost Italy €5.5 billion more than cost of the current system – assuming that is, the the payments would be in the region of €600 a month. The total cost would amount to around €21 billion a year and would replace Italy’s current and complex system.
There were other questions on slightly more technical aspects. I suspect the quality of questions would improve over time and as more people attended these types of meeting which I don’t believe other parties bother to hold. If they do, they are members only events which is not that democratic.
Overall Impression?
Very positive. I met a lot of very friendly 5 Star Movement people there too.
After the meeting, which ran for around 2 hours, as I mentioned at the start, I went for a kebab with the MPs and some of the 5 Star Movement activists.
The initial plan was to go for a pizza, but the pizza restaurant was full. While chomping on our kebabs and drinking a beer or two, we chatted some more about Italy and its issues and drank a few beers.
Who paid for the meal? We all did! Although I will admit that the 5 Star Movement members did pay for my beers! Thanks 🙂
Not that getting free-beer has influenced me, but the more I see of the 5 Star Movement and its members, the more I like it and, more importantly, what it is trying to do. OK, I admit it, even if I can’t vote for 5 Star Movement proposals, I’ve become a semi-activist. Well, I do like Italy and I do want to see this great nation realize its full potential.
Anything negative? No, not really, except for the fact that some of the 5 Star Movement people think this is a last ditch attempt to sort out Italy and if it does not work, then they really have not idea what will happen.
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Photos by Alex Roe
Guido says
Thanks so much for this article; i am from South Italy and i was searching for outsider sources opinions on the M5S, and found your blog. It shed some light on the matter, and i’m moved seeing that there are optimistic views on the situation and on the Movement even from neutral or semi-neutral observers. Ty again.
Alex Roe says
Prego and thanks for commenting, Guido. I’m semi-neutral, as I like the 5 Star Movement and what it’s trying to do, so seek other opinions too.
Best,
Alex
sparagangus says
hi alex! this is just my personal opinion, of course, but I can’t see where your optimism comes from. still I think that your and diana’s enthusiasm is indicative of how early fascism and nazism worked. nazi and fascist supporters did not think: “let’s be evil and make a war and kill millions of innocent lives!”. people thought that by supporting those parties they were going to better things in their countries, improve everybody’s lives, eradicate corruption and finally have politicians who would look after the people’s and not their own interests. I think facism and m5s share the same mindset that says that WE are good and YOU are bad, therefore you must be destroyed. and I don’t even see anything democratic about the m5s: mp wannabes where chosen on the internet (yep!) and then appointed by grillo. these guys might be well-intentioned allright but so far everytime one of them has spoken they’ve proved arrogant and incompetent (and proud of their incompetence, which to them is a sign of political purity). just like a sect it promises salvation and universal rebirth, but on the level of more down-to-earth and politically feasible things, it says nothing. so, I don’t see what’s there to be optimistic about.
Alex Roe says
Personal opinions welcome.
My opinion is that M5S is not like fascism at all. Oh, and you forgot communists – in the USSR, those who disagreed with the regime were imprisoned or killed. Most people support political parties because they think they will make a difference, so what you are saying does not really mean much.
What the 5 Star people are saying is that certain people are bad, and certain people are – bad managers and not too honest either. Italy’s parliament needs cleaning up and it needs competence.
Having met and spoken to quite a number of 5 Star Movement members, I’d say the movement is much more democratic than any of the other parties. You can join up and express an opinion or make a suggestion either on or offline.
The two 5 Star Movement MPs I met were neither arrogant nor incompetent – quite the opposite. Nice people, many of who are graduates, so do not lack education – people who just want to serve Italy and help the nation work. None of the other 5 Star Movement members I’ve met have been arrogant either and appear to know a lot about constitutional matters too. The movement is also transparent with much of what it does being broadcast publicly over the web.
Most of what the 5 Star Movement is proposing is feasible politically and much of it could help create a parliament which serves Italy and not itself.
I’d suggest either going along to a MeetUp and meeting some of the 5 Star Movement activists to find out what the movement is about, or waiting to see what happens in parliament before passing judgement. Being dubious is natural and Italy is terrified of anything which is new, I know. Sometimes though, change can be the only way forward.
I shall remain optimistic. The alternatives to the 5 Star Movement do not inspire optimism at all.
Best,
Alex
Diana says
Hi Alex!
I didn’t realise that you can’t vote here. I can and I did and I also signed up to the 5StarMovement too. I think you already knew that I believe in their programme, including the ‘citizen’s wage’ (which will not cost more than the present benefits already cost and will also help many more people than those who have a right to receive anything under present laws). Once they get rid of all the parliamentary expenses there will be more than enough to go round!
My opinion is that the media here did not do their homework before the elections and they are distorting so much. However even though only 2 weeks have passed we can already see the changes that are taking place. People are waking up and seeing that we do not have to have the old generation of politicians. We CAN change and it is my opinion that we will!