Grillo claims right to M5S 'extinction'

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 26 - Stand-up comic Beppe Grillo, the co-founder of the left-leaning populist 5-Star Movement (M5S), on Saturday claimed the right to bring on the "extinction" of the party after leader Giuseppe Conte annulled his lucrative contract with it and said relations between the two had broken down irreversibly amid a row over its ban on standing for office twice in a row and over the party symbol.
    Conte said this week that relations with the anti-establishment group's founder Grillo have "broken irreversibly" and announced he will not renew the founder's 300,000-euro-a-year consultancy contract as its 'guarantor'.
    Ex-premier Conte and Grillo had been at odds for months over issues including possible changes to the movement's statute that would eliminate the rule stopping M5S's elective representatives from serving more than two terms.
    Grillo has said that the two-term rule must not be changed and neither can the movement's name or symbol.
    The row could lead to a schism.
    Writing on his blog Saturday, Grillo said: "I absolutely do not want to make a mess or not, I stake my claim as the creator of the movement.
    "I claim my right to the extinction of the movement. "When I see this flag of the 5 Stars, with the Wizard of Oz (Conte) in front who speaks of direct democracy, I get a hole in my stomach.
    "So, that's fine, we have to be civilized people.
    "He can make his own nice party, he can make his manifesto with his beautiful, nice, sincere face, with it written, Oz and his 22 mandates can reach 8%". (ANSA).