Comedian Beppe Grillo was surprised himself when his Five Star Movement got 8.7 million votes in the Italian general election of February 24-25th. His movement is now the biggest single party in the chamber of deputies, says The Guardian, which makes him \u201ca kingmaker in a hung parliament.\u201d <\/p>\n
Grillo\u2019s is the party of \u201cno.\u201d In a candidacy based on satire, he organized an annual \u201cV Day Celebration,\u201d the \u201cV\u201d standing for vaffanculo (\u201cf\u2014k off\u201d). He rejects the status quo\u2014all the existing parties and their monopoly control of politics, jobs, and financing\u2014and seeks a referendum on all international treaties, including NATO membership, free trade agreements and the Euro.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we get into parliament,\u201d says Grillo, \u201cwe would bring the old system down, not because we would enjoy doing so but because the system is rotten.\u201d Critics fear, and supporters hope, that if his party succeeds, it could break the Euro system.<\/p>\n