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Version 2 Version 3
Five Star Movement: is Italy having a laugh? Five Star Movement: is Italy having a laugh?
(12 days later)
Age: Tre anni e mezzo.Age: Tre anni e mezzo.
Appearance: Molto felice!Appearance: Molto felice!
Are you going to keep this up? No.Are you going to keep this up? No.
Good … Wait a minute. Was that an English no? Certamente!Good … Wait a minute. Was that an English no? Certamente!
I knew it. Next question: why are you being jocular in Italian? Because it's all the rage, especially in Italy, where the Movimento 5 Stelle, a protest group led by a 64-year-old comedian called Beppe Grillo, has just won more votes in the general election than any other single party.I knew it. Next question: why are you being jocular in Italian? Because it's all the rage, especially in Italy, where the Movimento 5 Stelle, a protest group led by a 64-year-old comedian called Beppe Grillo, has just won more votes in the general election than any other single party.
My mother! So we're not talking about a sect based on the teachings of the Romford pop quintet whose hits included System Addict? No, we're not.My mother! So we're not talking about a sect based on the teachings of the Romford pop quintet whose hits included System Addict? No, we're not.
Pity. Grillo's five stars, instead of representing Stedman, Lorraine, Deniece, Doris and Delroy Pearson, stand for the party's core principles of publicly owned water, better transport, development, internet access and environmentalism.Pity. Grillo's five stars, instead of representing Stedman, Lorraine, Deniece, Doris and Delroy Pearson, stand for the party's core principles of publicly owned water, better transport, development, internet access and environmentalism.
With matching jumpsuits? No. Although it is broadly Eurosceptic, and profoundly opposed to corruption and dishonesty.With matching jumpsuits? No. Although it is broadly Eurosceptic, and profoundly opposed to corruption and dishonesty.
That's not really the same thing. Perhaps it isn't. But Grillo is a real showman. In 2007, he organised the hugely successful "Vaffanculo Day" to protest against the country's rotten politics.That's not really the same thing. Perhaps it isn't. But Grillo is a real showman. In 2007, he organised the hugely successful "Vaffanculo Day" to protest against the country's rotten politics.
What does Vaffanculo mean? Er ... It's a sweary way of saying "go away".What does Vaffanculo mean? Er ... It's a sweary way of saying "go away".
So Italian voters, unhappy with the same old clowns dominating their politics, have voted for a new old clown instead? Yes.So Italian voters, unhappy with the same old clowns dominating their politics, have voted for a new old clown instead? Yes.
That'll teach 'em! No it won't. The Five Star Movement isn't part of a political bloc, you see, which means it won't actually run the country. The centre-left will narrowly control the Italian parliament's lower house, while the centre-right just holds the upper one, meaning that nothing gets done, Italy's borrowing costs will become unsustainable, and they will probably just have another election.That'll teach 'em! No it won't. The Five Star Movement isn't part of a political bloc, you see, which means it won't actually run the country. The centre-left will narrowly control the Italian parliament's lower house, while the centre-right just holds the upper one, meaning that nothing gets done, Italy's borrowing costs will become unsustainable, and they will probably just have another election.
Splendid. We'll see more of Grillo and his chums on TV soon then, will we? I'm afraid not. It is a central tenet of the party that their candidates do not appear on television.Splendid. We'll see more of Grillo and his chums on TV soon then, will we? I'm afraid not. It is a central tenet of the party that their candidates do not appear on television.
Another thing they share with Five Star, I suppose. "We've started a war of generations," Grillo announced on his website.Another thing they share with Five Star, I suppose. "We've started a war of generations," Grillo announced on his website.
Hahaha! That's hilarious. It's not a joke, you pillock.Hahaha! That's hilarious. It's not a joke, you pillock.
Do say: "At least Grillo kept Silvio Berlusconi out of the top job."Do say: "At least Grillo kept Silvio Berlusconi out of the top job."
Don't say: "Yes, but Berlusconi is a better comedian."Don't say: "Yes, but Berlusconi is a better comedian."
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