At the two-day assembly held over the weekend in Rome, members of Italy’s 5-Star Movement (M5S) voted decisively to remove the position of “guarantor” from the party’s statute, a role that had been held by Beppe Grillo since the party’s foundation. A significant 62.3% of party members voted for the abolition, marking a pivotal moment in the long-standing tension between Grillo and party president Giuseppe Conte. This decision effectively strips Grillo of his power, placing full control of the movement in Conte’s hands. Grillo had previously held the role of “guarantor,” a figure responsible for interpreting the party’s foundational principles and even having the authority to challenge the president’s leadership.
The votes also brought sweeping changes to M5S policies, including the removal of the two-term limit for elected officials. Originally intended to prevent political careers from becoming professionalized, this rule had become a major obstacle, limiting the party’s leadership pool. Under the new rules, officials can now serve three terms at each level of government and return to the same position after a five-year break. Along with these reforms, the party membership also approved the possibility of changing the party’s name and symbol, which had been considered untouchable by Grillo just months earlier.
The assembly’s final decision also included a shift in the M5S’s political positioning. Instead of maintaining its traditional stance of equidistance between the left and right, the party has redefined itself as a “progressive independent” force. This reflects a clear break from the past and is aimed at positioning the M5S as a key player in opposition to right-wing forces. The decision comes in the wake of declining popularity for the party, which had seen its support dip below 10% in recent European elections, fueling Grillo’s frustration and leading to Conte’s push for a major overhaul.
