Five Star Movement facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Five Star Movement Movimento 5 Stelle

Abbreviation	M5S
President	Giuseppe Conte
Guarantor	Beppe Grillo
Founders	Beppe Grillo Gianroberto Casaleggio
Founded	4 October 2009; 15 years ago (2009-10-04)
Headquarters	Via Campo Marzio 46, Rome
Newspaper	Il Blog di Beppe Grillo (2009–2018) Il Blog delle Stelle (2018–2021)
Membership (2024)	170,000
Ideology	Populism Green politics Direct democracy
European Parliament group	EFDD (2014–2019) Non-Inscrits (since 2019)
Colors	Yellow
Chamber of Deputies	51 / 400
Senate	27 / 200
European Parliament	5 / 76
Regional Councils	61 / 896
Conference of Regions	1 / 21
Political parties

The Five Star Movement (Italian: Movimento 5 Stelle, often called M5S) is a political group in Italy. It was started on October 4, 2009, by Beppe Grillo, a comedian and activist, and Gianroberto Casaleggio, a web expert. The M5S is known for being a "populist" group, meaning it tries to represent the common people against the ruling class. It also supports green politics (caring for the environment) and direct democracy (where citizens vote directly on laws).

The current leader and president of the M5S is Giuseppe Conte, who used to be the Prime Minister of Italy from 2018 to 2021. The M5S believes it is not a traditional political party and tries to stay out of the usual "left" or "right" political groups. From 2014 to 2017, the M5S was part of a group called Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy in the European Parliament. Since 2019, they have been independent in the European Parliament.

In recent years, the M5S has seen its support change. In the 2018 Italian general election, it became the biggest group in the Italian Parliament. Since then, it has been part of different governments. In the 2022 Italian general election, their support went down, and they became an opposition group. However, they still have strong support in southern Italy. In 2024, a member of the M5S, Alessandra Todde, became the president of the Sardinia region, which was a big win for the group.

How the Movement Started
Key Elections and Governments
What the Five Star Movement Believes In
Internal Structure
Groups That Left the M5S
Election Results
Leaders of the Movement
Symbols of the Movement
Images for kids
See also

How the Movement Started

Early Meetings and Ideas

In 2005, Beppe Grillo used his blog to suggest that his supporters meet up locally. These "Friends of Beppe Grillo" meetings aimed to share ideas for a better world, starting in their own cities. They talked about topics like technology, communication, and protecting the environment.

These early meetings led to Grillo being asked to run for prime minister in 2005. Later, in 2007, local groups that had run in elections met to promote direct democracy. This means citizens would have more say in how things are run, like voting on laws directly or choosing their leaders in open elections.

V-Days: Big Protests

V-Day in Bologna, 2007

In 2007, Grillo started "V-Day" events. These were big protests to gather signatures for new laws. One goal was to stop people with criminal records from becoming politicians. The "V" in V-Day stood for several things, including a reference to a movie called V for Vendetta, which is about political change.

On September 8, 2007, V-Day events across Italy collected over 336,000 signatures, much more than needed for a new law. A second V-Day was held in 2008 to gather signatures for more changes.

Five Star Civic Lists Begin

In 2008, Grillo introduced the symbol for the "Five Star Civic Lists" for local elections. The "V" in the logo was a nod to the V-Day protests. In 2009, these local groups met in Florence, where Grillo shared a 12-point plan.

In the 2009 European Parliament election, two people supported by Grillo's movement were elected. Also, 23 local councillors from the Five Star Civic Lists were elected, especially in northern Italy. On October 4, 2009, Grillo and Gianroberto Casaleggio officially announced the birth of the National Five Star Movement (M5S).

Key Elections and Governments

Early Successes (2010–2012)

In the 2010 regional elections, the M5S did well in some areas, especially in Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont, where they elected regional councillors. In 2011, they gained representatives in 28 towns and cities.

In 2012, the M5S won mayoral elections in cities like Parma. After these wins, the M5S became very popular in national polls. In the 2012 Sicilian regional election, the M5S was the most voted group, winning 15 seats in the regional assembly.

Becoming a Major Force (2013 General Election)

Beppe Grillo in Trento during the 2013 election campaign

For the 2013 general election, the M5S chose its candidates through online voting by its members. This was a new way of doing things in Italy. In February 2013, Beppe Grillo held a huge rally in Rome with 800,000 people.

In the election, the M5S received 25.55% of the votes for the Chamber of Deputies, making it the second most popular group. For the Senate, they got 23.79% of the votes. They won more votes than any other single party. Luigi Di Maio, at 26, became the youngest vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies.

European Parliament Elections (2014 and 2019)

Grillo speaking to a crowd in Rome, 2014

In their first European election in 2014, the M5S came in second place, winning 17 members of the European Parliament (MEPs). They joined a group called Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD).

In 2019, the M5S saw a decrease in their votes in the European Parliament election, getting 17.1% of the votes and 14 seats. This was seen as a big loss for the group.

Government Changes (2018–2022)

In the 2018 general election, the M5S became the largest group in the Italian Parliament. They formed a government with another group called the League. This government focused on ideas like a basic income to help people in poverty.

Later, in 2019, the government faced a crisis. The M5S then formed a new government with the Democratic Party (PD). During these years, some members left the M5S. In 2021, Giuseppe Conte became the new president of the M5S.

In 2022, the M5S decided to stop supporting the government led by Mario Draghi. This led to the government collapsing and new elections being called.

Recent Elections (2022 General Election)

In the 2022 general election, the M5S got 15% of the votes. They became an opposition group, meaning they are not part of the government. Giuseppe Conte said they would be a strong opposition, fighting for fairness and helping families.

What the Five Star Movement Believes In

The M5S is seen as a group that is against the traditional way politics is done. They focus on protecting the environment and giving more power to citizens.

Direct Democracy: Power to the People

The M5S strongly believes in direct democracy. This means they want citizens to have a direct say in how the country is run, rather than just voting for politicians to make all the decisions. They believe that traditional political parties are old and corrupt.

To make this happen, the M5S uses online voting for its members. For example, they choose their candidates for Parliament this way. They also use an online platform called Rousseau where members can discuss and vote on new laws before they are proposed in Parliament.

Using the Internet for Change

The M5S sees the internet as a powerful tool for making politics more open and fair. They believe the internet can help solve many problems in society, the economy, and the environment. They think it allows for more people to get involved and share their ideas.

Caring for the Environment and People

The M5S has strong roots in environmentalism. They support ideas like using renewable energy and protecting nature. They also care about social issues, like helping people who are struggling and making sure everyone has fair opportunities. They want to create "green jobs" and stop projects that harm the environment.

Fighting Corruption and Being Transparent

One of the main rules of the M5S is that being a politician should be a temporary service, not a lifelong career. They believe that politicians should not serve too many terms. They also want politicians to earn less money and return any extra to the state.

The M5S also believes that politicians should not have criminal records. They push for laws that stop people with criminal pasts from being elected. They want politics to be more open and honest, with no hidden conflicts of interest.

Equal Rights for All Citizens

The M5S supports equal rights for all citizens. They have shown support for laws that ensure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of their background or who they love.

No Fixed Alliances

The M5S has often said they don't want to form permanent alliances with other political groups, whether they are "left" or "right." They want to stay independent and focus on their own ideas. However, they have formed governments with different groups in the past, depending on the situation.

Views on Immigration

The M5S has had changing views on immigration. They have talked about managing borders and ensuring that rules are followed. They have also discussed the role of organizations that help migrants. Their stance has sometimes been seen as strict, but they have also worked to make policies fairer.

Internal Structure

The M5S is known for being a unique political group. They have faced some challenges regarding how decisions are made internally. While they promote online participation, some critics have said that the leaders still have a lot of control.

They have strict rules for their members, including limits on how long someone can be elected. They also believe in "zero-cost politics," meaning politicians should not make a career out of it and should reduce their salaries.

Groups That Left the M5S

Since the M5S entered Parliament, some members have left to form their own political groups. This is common in politics when people have different ideas about how things should be run. Some of these groups include:

Italy Work in Progress (2014)
Free Alternative (2015)
Italexit (2020)
Alternative (2021)
Together for the Future (2022)

Election Results

Italian Parliament Seats

Election	Chamber of Deputies					Senate of the Republic					Leader
Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Leader
2013	8,691,406	25.6	109 / 630	–	1st	7,285,850	23.8	54 / 315	–	2nd	Beppe Grillo
2018	10,732,066	32.7	227 / 630	119	1st	9,733,928	32.2	112 / 315	58	1st	Luigi Di Maio
2022	4,333,972	15.4	52 / 400	175	3rd	4,285,894	15.6	28 / 200	85	3rd	Giuseppe Conte

European Parliament Seats

Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Leader
2014	5,807,362	21.2	17 / 73	–	2nd	Beppe Grillo
2019	4,569,089	17.1	14 / 76	3	3rd	Luigi Di Maio

Regional Council Seats

Region	Election year	Votes	%	Seats	+/−	Status in legislature
Aosta Valley	2020	2,589 (9th)	3.9	0 / 35	4	No seats
Piedmont	2019	241,014 (3rd)	12.6	5 / 51	3	Opposition
Lombardy	2023	113,229 (8th)	3.9	3 / 80	10	Opposition
South Tyrol	2018	6,670 (8th)	2.4	1 / 35	0	Opposition
Trentino	2018	18,437 (4th)	7.2	2 / 35	0	Opposition
Veneto	2020	55,281 (6th)	2.7	1 / 50	4	Opposition
Friuli-Venezia Giulia	2023	9,486 (7th)	2.4	1 / 49	3	Opposition
Emilia-Romagna	2020	102,595 (5th)	4.7	2 / 50	3	Opposition
Liguria	2020	48,722 (5th)	7.8	2 / 30	4	Opposition
Tuscany	2020	113,386 (4th)	7.0	1 / 40	4	Opposition
Marche	2020	44,330 (4th)	7.1	3 / 30	2	Opposition
Umbria	2019	30,953 (4th)	7.4	1 / 21	1	Opposition
Lazio	2023	132,041 (3rd)	8.5	4 / 51	6	Opposition
Abruzzo	2019	118,273 (2nd)	19.7	7 / 31	1	Opposition
Molise	2023	10,044 (6th)	7.1	3 / 21	3	Opposition
Campania	2020	233,974 (3rd)	9.9	7 / 50	–	Opposition
Apulia	2020	165,243 (3rd)	9.9	5 / 50	2	Opposition
Basilicata	2019	60,070 (3rd)	20.3	3 / 21	1	Opposition
Calabria	2021	49,414 (6th)	6.5	2 / 31	2	Opposition
Sicily	2022	254,974 (3rd)	13.6	11 / 70	9	Opposition
Sardinia	2024	51.129 (3rd)	7.7	8 / 60	2	Majority

Leaders of the Movement

Presidents and Political Leaders

Name (born–died)		Term start	Term end	Duration
President
1	Beppe Grillo (born 1948)	4 October 2009	23 September 2017	7 years, 354 days
Political leader
2	Luigi Di Maio (born 1986)	23 September 2017	22 January 2020	2 years, 121 days
Political leader ad interim (temporary)
–	Vito Crimi (born 1972)	22 January 2020	6 August 2021	1 year, 196 days
President
3	Giuseppe Conte (born 1964)	6 August 2021	Incumbent	3 years, 321 days

Other Key Roles

Vice Presidents: Paola Taverna (senior, 2021–present), Michele Gubitosa (2021–present), Riccardo Ricciardi (2021–present), Mario Turco (2021–present), Chiara Appendino (2023–present)
Guarantor: Beppe Grillo (2017–present)
Committee of Trustees: Roberto Fico (2021–present), Virginia Raggi (2021–present), Laura Bottici (2022–present)