And in the end, the Grillo parlante (the “talking cricket”) became the grillo morente (the “dying cricket”). I use the present participle and not the past because the perfect crime by Conte is only missing its legal stamp. The terrible wrath of the Founder will indeed spill onto legal documents but not into any political act. No remembered rebellions, no splits causing tremors. The “people’s lawyer” has slain the populist comedian.
The four days of the Five Star Constituent Assembly resembled less a foundational congress and more the Three Days of the Condor: venom and conflict culminated in a movement that no longer needed its Guarantor and erased the two-term limit. Conte then insisted on adding the term progressive to the new entity’s definition, threatening resignation if not. In short, a complete victory and a finished process.
The writing had been on the wall for some time. From the first moment to the countdown, the metamorphosis was already complete. From hyper-democracy to a leader-centered party. From the citizen as the theoretical protagonist of equality to southern Italian-style welfare. From shouting “Vaffa!” at the establishment to carving out a costly role in the next-generation establishment. Casaleggio Jr., Di Battista, Di Maio—all gone. And now Grillo, too.
Now, dear “Giuseppi”—of Trumpian fame (after all, Trump has made a grand comeback himself)—must carve out a worthy role in the so-called broad front. But making his way through that field won’t be as simple as commanding the old click-based camel troops of democracy.
