Roberto Fico Announces New Parliamentary Group After Split in Five Star Movement
Roberto Fico, the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, representing the Five Star Movement, revealed on Wednesday the formation of a new parliamentary group born from a split led by his former colleague Luigi Di Maio. The move marks a significant realignment within the party as members depart to follow Di Maio in a new political direction.
The nascent group has been named Insieme per il futuro, or Together for the Future, and is composed of fifty MPs in the lower house who chose to leave the Five Star Movement alongside Di Maio. The development follows weeks of debate within the party about its electoral performance and strategic choices.
The public announcement comes as Italy’s foreign policy chief signals a broader reorientation within the government, highlighting how internal party dynamics can influence national policy. The transition reflects disagreements that have featured prominently in Italian political discourse since Di Maio parted ways with the federation established in 2009 and, at times, clashed with former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte over governance and direction.
The friction arose in part from Di Maio’s critique of the party’s electoral results and the leadership cadre that has pushed back against the idea of prioritizing certain domestic agendas while emphasizing diplomatic channels in international matters, including relations with Ukraine and broader security considerations.
The departure signals a clear message about the M5S’s evolving role in parliament. Di Maio stated that the Five Star Movement will no longer hold the status of the principal political force in the chamber, signaling a shift in the balance of influence as the party loses a sizable bloc of deputies. If the split is confirmed in the Senate, the coalition dynamics in the legislature will be further affected as Di Maio’s camp reshapes the parliamentary landscape.
The split results in a reduced footprint for the Five Star Movement in the chamber, where its former share of seats will be surpassed by other major parties, including the far-right League, the Democratic Party, and Forza Italia led by Silvio Berlusconi. The reorganization also triggers changes in government roles as Di Maio’s faction positions itself within Italy’s executive framework.
Di Maio’s new group will command several key posts that influence policymaking. Among the figures associated with the faction are Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Laura Castelli, Under-Secretary of Justice Anna Macina, Foreign Minister Manlio Di Stefano, and South Minister Dalila Nesci. Together, they form a core coalition that aims to sustain governance through a redefined political alliance.
Di Maio has reaffirmed a steadfast commitment to supporting the government’s agenda. Since January 2021, the government has operated with the backing of a broad coalition across multiple parties, with the notable exception of the anti-establishment faction from Brothers of Italy. The evolving party landscape in parliament underscores how internal splits can redraw the country’s political map and influence legislative priorities. Source: Reuters