Grillo too close to China, the European Greens do not want the 5 Star Movement

The final decision could come today – whether or not to let the 5 Stars join the green group in the European Parliament? – but however it goes the choice will not be painless. If on the one hand there are those who favor the entrance of the Movement, on the other hand there are very strong internal oppositions. An example of this is the email sent to all Green MEPs and their respective assistants by a historic German environmental exponent, himself elected in Brussels, i.e. Reinhard Bütikofer.

His communication starts from the story of the meeting he had with Joseph Conte last week: the former Prime Minister had seen the leaders of the European environmental group precisely to plead the cause of the Movement. “I asked him what guarantees he could give that the M5S would not undermine the fight against authoritarianism of our group and the green family. But he preferred not to answer my question”, he writes Bütikofer. Which concludes his preamble: “Conte was unable to assure us that they would not undermine (ours, ed) fight against authoritarianism because they are already doing it extensively. On this matter they are our adversaries.”

The email from the German MEP touches on two specific topics: the Movement’s pacifist position on the war in Ukraine, considered however convenient, not moved by sincere principles but by a sort of adventurism in foreign policy if not intelligence with the ‘enemy’ – these are the considerations of Bütikofer – and the special relationship of Beppe Grillo and of the M5S itself with China. Around these two topics, the German green has produced a series of statements and writings that demonstrate or would demonstrate the incompatibility of the 5 Stars with the Greens’ policy. Where, however, it must be said that sensitivities are different among the various European parties: this is demonstrated, for example, by the full support for the military intervention in Ukraine by the Grunens – who govern with social democrats and liberals in Germany – and instead the no to the sending of arms of the Left Green Alliance in Italy, exactly as the Movement did after the fall of the Draghi government.

“I hope that the documentation of the real position of the M5S on these issues will help you to make a decision”, Bütikofer concludes in his communication. Even Green Europe, the party of the laughing sun in Italy and allied with the Italian Left, is against the entry of the 5 Stars into the grouping, but does not have any MEPs who can still participate in a possible count.