“Three essential pillars”, open war M5s –

Notice to navigators, that is, to Giuseppe Conte and the Conte supporters, from Beppe Grillo who sets the pillars of the 5 Star Movement in view of the constituent assembly almost upon us. In short, the rules and principles with which the M5S was born cannot be touched: name, symbol and – a question that has returned to the fore, with related reflections, in the last European elections – the ceiling of the second mandate for the elected representatives cannot be the subject of negotiation but are the DNA of the project built with Gianroberto Casaleggio.

“Dear activists, spokespeople and supporters of the 5 Star Movement, we find ourselves at a fundamental crossroads in our history, where we must reflect on our roots and on what has united us from the beginning. When we founded the 5 Star Movement, Gianroberto and I, we did so with a clear ideal: to create an alternative to the traditional political system”, writes Beppe Grillo, the guarantor of the M5s, on his blog. “Our journey was born from a shared dream, a dream that led us to challenge a corrupt system, to give citizens a voice and to try to build a more just and transparent Italy. In 2013, a cry opened the way for us, it threw open that door that we could not see. Behind that door was a new world, an unknown territory, completely different from what we imagined. Like every animal species, we had to adapt to survive, and with little agility we had to coexist with those who had inhabited those territories for a long time and did not want to be disturbed. Throughout this journey, we have always been anchored to three essential pillars: our symbol, our name and the second term rule”, he recalls.

“The symbol of the 5 Star Movement is not just a graphic sign, it is a call to change, it is the emblem of an entire cultural and political revolution, the flag under which millions of Italians have marched with us. It is the banner under which millions of citizens have recognized themselves and with which we have fought important battles; from which shared ideas, values ​​and hopes were born, it is the visible sign of our fight for transparency, justice and participation. A political party should never give in to the temptation to change its symbol: it is the compass that guides the path towards the future, without ever betraying the past”, is Grillo’s warning. “Our name, 5 Star Movement, is not just a sequence of sounds or letters: it represents our full identity, it is a name that contains stories, meanings and hopes, like the name of each of us, since our birth. When we pronounce 5 Star Movement we evoke a connection, we recognize its essence, its uniqueness. Changing a name is like giving up a piece of that magic, an invisible bridge that connects who we are to who we want to become. In life there can be many transformations, but the name remains an anchor, a constant reminder of our truest essence. Movimento 5 Stelle is the name that has guided us towards concrete results, defending it means defending our history and our right to be recognized for what we are, yesterday, today and tomorrow”, he writes again.

«And then there is the second term rule. It was September 8, 2007: with V-Day, the collection of signatures for three popular initiative bills was launched, including the introduction of a maximum limit of two legislatures. That’s where it all began», he underlines. «Politics, in its purest essence, must not be a profession but a noble mission. Transforming political commitment into a perpetual profession means betraying the trust of citizens and sinking into the quagmire of mediocrity and opportunism», Grillo explains. «The second term rule is a principle that distinguishes us, that has made us unique, that frees us from power and its temptations. It is the guarantee that the Movement will always remain faithful to its original spirit: serving citizens and not power, with representatives who carry forward ideas and not their own personal ambitions. These three pillars of ours are in no way negotiable, and cannot be changed at will. They are the beating heart of the 5 Star Movement, our beacon in the storm. Changing them would mean betraying the trust of those who believed in us, of those who fought with us, of those who saw in the Movement the only hope for real change. I therefore ask you to reflect deeply, to listen to your conscience. In this crucial moment we cannot afford to lose our course. Let us guard and protect what we have built together. The Movement is and must remain a force for authentic change, and to do so, we must remain faithful to our founding principles”, he concludes. In short, those who want to change the movement can touch everything except these three pillars. An escalation of the M5s feud seen in recent weeks is expected.