At the constituent assembly “we will be able to discuss everything, we will be able to completely recover: even the symbol, the name, the rules of organization, the consolidated ones, will be able to be discussed. Because we cannot admit that when the community of members decides, some must decide arbitrarily and in advance what can be discussed, what can be decided.” The leader of the M5s Giuseppe Conte said this in a video on social networks after Beppe Grillo's position on the “non-negotiable pillars” of the Movement, namely “our symbol, our name and the rule of the second term.”
What Beppe Grillo said
Beppe Grillo breaks his silence. The founder and guarantor of the Five Star Movement published today, Tuesday 20 August, an article on his personal blog in which he draws the attention of the party's activists, spokespeople and supporters to the values that have inspired and distinguished him so far. A clear warning after former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's refusal to the proposal for discussion put forward by Grillo in view of the constituent assembly scheduled for the autumn. Three points touched upon by the guarantor, the symbol, the name and the rule of the second term, on which Grillo builds the perimeter wall: “These three pillars of ours are in no way negotiable and cannot be changed at will”. There will be just as many knots to untie for the leader of the Five Star Movement.
“Never change your symbol”
Grillo himself acknowledges that the letter comes at a delicate moment for the Movement, at a crossroads in its history: “We must reflect on our roots and on what has united us since 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.” In the path taken by the Movement, the guarantor recalls the changes that have been made due to the need to survive in the political jungle. But, he emphasizes, “we have always anchored ourselves on three essential pillars: our symbol, our name and the rule of the second term.” It is the symbol itself that Grillo does not want to abandon: “A political party must never give in to the temptation to change its symbol.” Because, he continues, “it is the compass that guides the path towards the future, without ever betraying the past.” This circle with the red “V” and the 5 stars, dear themes, are essential: “It is not just a graphic sign, it is a call for change, it is the emblem of an entire cultural and political revolution, the flag below, where millions of Italians marched with us.
Another no: “The name remains a reminder of our essence”
If the symbol is untouchable, so is the name of the party: “In life there can be many transformations, but the name remains an anchor, a constant reminder of our true essence. MoVimento 5 Stelle is the name that has guided us to concrete results, defending it means defending our history and our right to be recognized for what we are, yesterday, today and tomorrow. For Grillo, giving up the name would mean losing the “identity” of the Movement, abandoning “an invisible bridge that connects who we are to who we want to become.”
“Politics should not be a profession”
Finally, any debate on revising Grillo's second term rule must be nipped in the bud. He remembers the past and the collection of signatures for bills that would introduce the maximum limit of two legislatures for parliamentarians. And he explains: “Politics, in its purest essence, must not be a profession but a noble mission. […] Limiting mandates means giving back to peoples the sovereignty they deserve, it is a guarantee of democracy, it prevents a few individuals from eternally claiming the right to govern.” A new claim to its identity: “The rule of the second mandate is a principle that distinguishes us, that makes 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.” A warning therefore for Conte and the Constituent Assembly where, according to rumor, these cornerstones would be called into question. But for Grillo, changing them would mean: “Betraying the trust of those who believed in us, of those who fought alongside us, of those who saw in the Movement the only hope for real change.” In conclusion, the guarantor invites the supporters of the pentastellati to reflect: “Let us keep and protect what we have built together. The Movement is and must remain an authentic force for change, and to do this, we must remain faithful to our founding principles.”
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