ROME (Reuters) - Italy's co-ruling 5-Star Movement was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday after its founder Beppe Grillo said the man primed to become its next leader, former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, was not up to the job. Within 24 hours Grillo hit back, saying Conte wanted to subvert the maverick, anti-system nature of the 5-Star. He remained in charge when 5-Star switched coalition partners the following year, becoming one of Italy's most popular leaders as his confidence grew. Many 5-Star parliamentarians had hoped that this popularity would help their own party bounce back in the polls. Grillo, an outspoken comic, worried that Conte wanted to transform his group into a traditional party, peopled by slick, professional politicians.

Source: The Star June 29, 2021 17:03 UTC