On Thursday morning, excerpts from journalist Bruno Vespa’s forthcoming book were released, revealing that Giuseppe Conte, the president of the Five Star Movement (Movimento 5 Stelle), hints at a reluctance to renew the contract with party founder Beppe Grillo, who currently serves as a “guarantor.” While Conte has expressed dissatisfaction with Grillo’s role in the past, he had never explicitly stated that he would not renew the contract. Following these previews, Conte’s team confirmed to journalists that “it is no longer possible to renew it under these conditions,” adding that Grillo’s contract, worth €300,000 annually for communication consultancy, remains valid and will expire in the coming months.
The relationship between Conte and Grillo has been fraught for years, but tensions have escalated dramatically since last August, with public letters and accusations exchanged through various media outlets. Their recent disagreements stem from Grillo’s opposition to Conte’s initiatives aimed at revitalizing the party after disappointing results in the last European elections. Criticism from Grillo has particularly focused on potential changes to the party’s symbol and the abolition of the two-term limit, revealing the longstanding discord between the two leaders.
In the book excerpts, Conte states that “Beppe Grillo is responsible for a counter-communication that undermines the basis of a contractual collaboration.” Just a month ago, he alluded to similar concerns in a letter to Grillo, indicating that the founder’s public statements were “incompatible with the obligations you specifically assumed toward the Movement.” He further hinted at possible initiatives to suspend Grillo’s contractual obligations due to these tensions, signaling a significant shift in the party’s internal dynamics.
