Five Star Movement
Reports on Five Star Movement See all →
Matteo Salvini’s fate and the future of Italy
With the Five Star Movement in free fall, Italy’s ruling coalition is becoming increasingly fragile. However, despite its enduring popularity, it remains unclear if Lega will manage to return to power thanks to this instability. Matteo Salvini’s opponents on the left and center will attempt to keep him out through electoral reforms. Meanwhile, the up-and-coming leader of the Brothers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, could become a serious contender for the right-wing vote.
Opinion: Brexit and ‘peak populism’ in Europe
The UK Parliament’s moves to block Brexit from occurring without a deal on October 31, 2019, has prompted some to say that Europe has reached “peak populism.” As the British case shows, though, societies remain polarized and democratic rules continue to be bent. What happens next in the UK may ...
EU elections shake the stability of Italy’s coalition
The European Parliament elections in May upended the balance of support for the parties in Italy's coalition government, with Lega far outpacing the Five Star Movement. Moreover, the country's budget imbalances increasingly require solutions that will be politically unpopular. Rank-and-file members of both parties could benefit from new elections, but ...
Italian gold and populist publicity
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has revived a five-year-old proposal to use his country’s gold reserves to bring down the budget deficit. The idea is problematic for several reasons – but that is not the point. Mr. Salvini is likely using this controversial plan to make headlines and burnish ...
GIS Dossier: The Italian case
Politically and financially, Italy has come to be regarded as a weak link in the European Union. Its shaky banks and enormous public debt almost blew apart the euro area during the debt crisis of 2010-2012, and could still do so. Its government, a marriage of populists on the left ...
