5-Star Movement (M5S) Giuseppe Conte
took a swipe at the anti-establishment group's founder Beppe
Grillo on Sunday, a move that is likely to increase tension
within it amid speculation a split could be on the horizon.
There is friction over mooted 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.
"It is not a Grillo-Conte issue, but a Grillo-community issue,"
ex-premier Conte told an event in Rome organized by daily
newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano.
"It is a political and legal principle.
"I will never accept being in a community where there is a
subject who is above the community itself.
"It is an undemocratic principle.
"If this principle prevails - and I do not see how it can
prevails - I could not be involved.
"I continue to respect his (Grillo's) role as founder, but
evidently the recipe no longer works," he continued, possible
referring to the M5S's poor recent electoral performances.
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