The Quitalian Job: How a chic Roman mayor and her joker of a party boss are on the brink of a Brexit-style bombshell that could tear the EU apart
Only in Italy could the people countenance the possibility of a comedian holding the reins of power.
From Mussolini to Berlusconi and endlessly changing governments of every hue in between, the country has seen it all.
But foul-mouthed Beppe Grillo, a former stand-up comic whose very name is redolent of the big top, is something else again. Even our own Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson seem tame by comparison.
Unthinkable though it might seem, Mr Grillo’s party, or movement as he prefers, which grew from his blog (of all things) just seven years ago, is now closer to forming a government than ever.
Next Sunday, the country goes to the polls in a referendum that might well shape the future of Europe, though on the face of it the vote doesn’t appear particularly consequential, concerning as it does constitutional changes to Italy’s equivalent of the House of Lords.
Yet its result has the potential to eclipse Brexit, and possibly bring the threat of EU disintegration closer to reality – while propelling Mr Grillo’s party ever upwards.
The referendum has effectively turned into a vote on the leadership of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi – and if he loses, which looks probable, there are fears it will set in train a sequence of events leading to the country abandoning the single currency, an outcome dubbed ‘Quitaly’.
As David Cameron did over Brexit, Mr Renzi has staked his political future on the vote, saying he will step down if he loses.
More...........
Roman mayor on the brink of a Brexit-style bombshell that could destroy EU | Daily Mail Online
Only in Italy could the people countenance the possibility of a comedian holding the reins of power.
From Mussolini to Berlusconi and endlessly changing governments of every hue in between, the country has seen it all.
But foul-mouthed Beppe Grillo, a former stand-up comic whose very name is redolent of the big top, is something else again. Even our own Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson seem tame by comparison.
Unthinkable though it might seem, Mr Grillo’s party, or movement as he prefers, which grew from his blog (of all things) just seven years ago, is now closer to forming a government than ever.
Next Sunday, the country goes to the polls in a referendum that might well shape the future of Europe, though on the face of it the vote doesn’t appear particularly consequential, concerning as it does constitutional changes to Italy’s equivalent of the House of Lords.
Yet its result has the potential to eclipse Brexit, and possibly bring the threat of EU disintegration closer to reality – while propelling Mr Grillo’s party ever upwards.
The referendum has effectively turned into a vote on the leadership of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi – and if he loses, which looks probable, there are fears it will set in train a sequence of events leading to the country abandoning the single currency, an outcome dubbed ‘Quitaly’.
As David Cameron did over Brexit, Mr Renzi has staked his political future on the vote, saying he will step down if he loses.
More...........
Roman mayor on the brink of a Brexit-style bombshell that could destroy EU | Daily Mail Online
