The 2021 Five Star Movement leadership election was an Italian online primary election held on 6 August 2021 that determined the president of the M5S.M5S, al via la votazione per eleggere Conte presidente. Gruppo di attivisti chiede la cancellazione: "Il 10 agosto noi fuori dal Movimento", la Repubblica The election was de facto a plebiscite in which party's members were asked to approve or reject the candidacy of former prime minister Giuseppe Conte as new leader.M5s, Conte incassa un plebiscito sullo statuto, ANSAItaly’s 5Stars complete shift to traditional party, Politico Europe Conte easily won the election with 92.8% of votes.Giuseppe Conte è il nuovo presidente del M5s: un plebiscito, 92,8% di sì. L’ex premier: “Voglio restituire dignità alla politica, progetto forte”, Il Fatto Quotidiano
Background In February 2021, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte was forced to resign, after losing the absolute majority in the Senate of the Republic.Conte si dimette e tenta il ter (senza chiudere la porta a Renzi), Il Sole 24 OreMario Draghi giura al Quirinale con tre minuti di anticipo , Huffington Post On 28 February 2021, after a few days from the end of his premiership, Conte joined the Five Star Movement (M5S), the party which proposed his candidacy as Prime Minister in June 2018.M5s, via alla rifondazione dopo il vertice con Grillo. Conte dice sì: parteciperà con un ruolo ad hoc, la Repubblica
After a few days, the founder and so-called Guarantor of the M5S, Beppe Grillo, gave Conte the task of writing a new party's statute and announced that Conte would become the new political leader.Grillo vuole Conte leader del M5S. Cambia lo statuto, Il Mattino In the following months, however, tensions grown up between the two politicians. In June, Grillo accused Conte of aiming at creating a one-man party and of being "without a political vision".Grillo e la rottura con Conte: «Non ha visione politica, no al partito unipersonale», Corriere della Sera The former Prime Minister threatened to found his own political movement, stating that Grillo "can not stop this useful political project".Conte attacca Grillo e apre al suo partito: “Non terrò questo progetto politico nel cassetto”, Fanpage In July 2021, Conte and Grillo found a compromise on the new statute and leadership elections were called on 6 August.M5s, accordo fra Conte e Grillo su statuto: "Leadership chiara è garanzia di democrazia", Sky Tg24
Candidates Portrait Name Most recent position Refs Giuseppe Conte Prime Minister of ItalyM5s, plebiscito per il nuovo statuto di Conte: 87% sì, domani si vota per farlo presidente, Fanpage
Results Leadership Candidate Votes % Giuseppe Conte62,24292.81Against4,8227.19 Total votes67,064 100.00Source: Movimento 5 Stelle
Statute ChoiceVotes% Yes53,23887.36 No7,70212.64Total60,940100.00Source: Huffington Post
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