* • Friday 03 January 2014 • My Account • Logout • Register • Login Register for INDEPENDENT VOICES now to comment on the Independent site, sign up for newsletters, react to articles and more... [EMAIL ] [PASSWORD ][ ] [CONFIRM PASSWORD ][ ] [Join Now] Already a member? click here to sign in [EMAIL ] [PASSWORD ][ ] Forgot password? [Submit] Don't have an account yet? Join Now! We've found an existing account with the given email. To link the social network identity with your site account, please provide the site password for the provided email. Email: [ ] Password: [ ] [Link Now] Forgot your password ? Email: [ ] [Recover Now] Registration indicates fields that are mandatory * Email * [ ] Password * [ ] Confirm Password * [ ] First name * [ ] Surname * [ ] Postcode * [ ] Country * [United Kingdom ] Mobile phone number [ ] Username * [ ] Gender * [Male ] Year of birth * [-- ] The Independent has a range of email newsletters simply choose which ones you want to receive. Please select the newsletters you would like to receive from The Independent [ ] IndyNews email: Early morning news headlines (Monday-Friday) [ ] Independent Voices newsletter: Updates with the best of our Opinion content [ ] IndyFootball email: Lunchtime football and sport headlines (Monday-Friday) [ ] Independent Travel newsletter: All the latest travel news and great offers (every Friday) [ ] Indy Arts and Entertainment newsletter: All the latest from the world of arts and entertainment (every Monday) [ ] The Independent Competitions and Offers email: The best new prizes, offers and bargains (every Friday) [*] Comment Reply Notification Occasionally we would like to send you emails detailing specific offers, from us or carefully selected partners. If you would like to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details to anyone else. [ ] I would like to receive additional offers and information from The Independent [ ] I would like to receive additional offers and information sent by The Independent on behalf of carefully selected partners Terms and Conditions [ ] * I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Independent Digital News and Media Limited [Complete Registration] Registration * indicates fields that are mandatory Email * [ ] Password * [ ] Confirm Password * [ ] First name * [ ] Surname * [ ] Username * [ ] Terms and Conditions [ ] * I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Independent [Complete] Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation. A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box. Flag Sent for Moderation. The comment you selected has been flagged to the moderators. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. • Elephant Appeal • ebooks • i Jobs • Dating • Shop The Independent [ipaper_lrg] • News □ UK ☆ Home News ☆ UK Politics ☆ Crime ☆ This Britain ☆ Weird News □ World ☆ Europe ☆ Americas ☆ Middle East ☆ Asia ☆ Africa ☆ Australasia ☆ World Politics ☆ World History ☆ Novaya Gazeta (English) ☆ US Elections ☆ US Elections Battleground □ Business ☆ Business News ☆ Business Comment ☆ Business Analysis & Features ☆ Sharewatch ☆ SME ☆ Market News ☆ Market Epic ☆ Market Heatmaps ☆ Market Screener ☆ Business Directory ☆ ES Business Connections □ People ☆ News ☆ Profiles ☆ Diary □ Science □ Environment ☆ Climate Change ☆ Green Living ☆ Nature □ Media ☆ Opinion ☆ TV & Radio ☆ Press ☆ Online ☆ Advertising □ Technology □ Education ☆ News ☆ Schools ☆ Further ☆ Higher ☆ Primary Tables 2011 ☆ Secondary Tables 2012 ☆ Training & Courses ☆ MBA & Executive □ Images □ Obituaries □ Diary □ Corrections □ Newsletter □ Appeals • Images • Voices • Sport • Tech • Life • Property • Arts + Ents • Travel • Money • IndyBest • Blogs • Student • Offers Afghanistan withdrawal Sherlock Immigration George Osborne Greece Michael Gove News > World > Europe Italy's anti-politician on the verge of election sensation [Beppe-Gril] [Beppe-Gril] Hopes of a stable coalition emerging after today's vote have been upset by emergence of the comic turned would-be leader Peter Popham Author Biography [Peter_Poph] Peter Popham Peter is a foreign correspondent and feature writer with The Independent who has done long stretches in Japan, India and Italy. More articles from this journalist Follow Peter Popham Sunday 24 February 2013 Print Your friend's email address [ ] Your email address [ ] [Send] [Reset] Note: We do not store your email address(es) but your IP address will be logged to prevent abuse of this feature. Please read our Legal Terms & Policies A A A Email As Italians vote today and tomorrow in one of the most unpredictable general elections in the nation's history, Europe looks on with fingers crossed, hoping that a prudent and functional coalition will emerge from the ballot box.The chances are not great. The nightmare prospect that Silvio Berlusconi might return to power yet again has receded in recent weeks. He is still hugely popular, and his Freedom People party was in second place when the last opinion polls were published before the ban on polling came into effect a fortnight ago. But his comeback has been put in the shade by the mercurial ascent of an equally magnetic and controversial figure: Beppe Grillo, a charismatic 64-year-old comedian from Genoa whose anti-political non-party, the Five-Star Movement, has come roaring from behind in recent weeks and may have taken over the number two slot, with one in five Italians said to be planning to vote for his mostly young, untried and unknown candidates. The likely presence in the next parliament of 100 or more "Grillini" puts a large question mark over the stability of any possible alliance. With Pope Benedict XVI about to retire, President Giorgio Napolitano weeks away from the end of his seven-year term and the Prime Minister, Mario Monti, a lame-duck caretaker, Italy is entering a phase of dramatic uncertainty. Into that vacuum has rushed the ranting, foul-mouthed, tousle-haired figure of Mr Grillo, an accountant before he became a cult comedian, whose final rally of his so-called "Tsunami Tour" of the country on Friday filled Rome's Piazza San Giovanni is said to have attracted 800,000 supporters. Mr Grillo's simple and hugely popular argument is that Italian politics of both left and right is rotten to the core and the nation's only hope is to sack all professional politicians – "tutti a casa!" roared the Rome crowd, "send them all home!" – and replace them with honest, well-intentioned Italians who will resist the temptations of power and set their country on the road back to sanity. "From every point of view, political, economic, social, the [politicians] are failures," he roared to the crowd in Rome. "And now something starts. We will no longer have to see ordinary people suffering and those on TV with their dickhead faces. They must all go home!" But behind the simple rhetoric lies a sophisticated campaign in which Mr Grillo turned his back on all conventional media, refusing to be interviewed on TV or in newspapers, building a huge support base on the net with his popular blog. Masterminded by the movement's co-founder, Gianroberto Casaleggio, the approach is as original as Mr Berlusconi's was 20 years ago. "It is extraordinary the sort of unlikely people who say they will vote for Grillo," commented James Walston, of the American University of Rome. "The majority are younger disillusioned left-wing voters but there are a good number of older ex-Berlusconi people. Once again Italy has invented a new form of politics." Until Mr Grillo burst upon the scene, the post-election scenario that many outside Italy were praying for was that Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left coalition would win a majority in the lower house, while the centrists clustered around Mr Monti might take the upper, which is decided region by region. Talk of a coalition has been discouraged during the campaign, but it was believed they could forge an alliance strong enough to weather the immediate economic storms facing the country. Mr Bersani, a former Communist, is the latest lacklustre figure trying to wave the left's old banner without frightening the horses. But Mr Monti, whose translation from grim-faced technocrat to beaming candidate has lost him fans – many say he is now "just another politician" – is said to have been losing support drastically, so that all the plotting may turn out to have been in vain. It is the essence of Mr Grillo's appeal that he refuses to discuss cutting deals with anybody: for his supporters, that's the bad old days. Instead he scatters ripe insults over rival leaders like confetti: Mr Berlusconi is the "psycho dwarf", Nichi Vendola, leader of Left, Liberty and Ecology, is "a hole without a doughnut", Mr Monti is "Rigor Montis". It's knockabout stuff that has delighted crowds the length of the country. How it will translate into the gritty work of governance is anybody's guess. Suggested Topics • Silvio Berlusconi • Josie Long • Italy • Genoa • Comedians Enter URL: [http:// ] Enter URL: [http:// ] News Morrissey 'I see no difference between eating animals and paedophilia' people Morrissey's at it again... Life & Style JW Anderson at the London Collections: Men show last January A 'Made in Britain' fashion revival – for those who can afford it fashionUK fashion finds success in high-end export market News [coinye-west1] Kanye West gets his own virtual currency... newsIntroducing the Coinye West Arts & Entertainment [ones-to-watch-2014] Bright young things: The best new talent in the arts for 2014 arts + ents VIDEO Arts & Entertainment Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul as drug-makers in Breaking Bad Breaking Bad creator reveals his one regret about the show tv News Not, of course, if his career was modelling rollnecks for a 1980s knitware brand Is this the most comically staged photoshoot of David Cameron's career? news Life & Style [sci-fi-covers] Isaac to the Future techSci-fi legend Isaac Asimov predicted the world of 2014 in 1964: here's what he got wrong Arts & Entertainment [grand-budapest-fox] What to watch in 2014 arts + entsGeoffrey MacNabb picks this year’s must-see films Arts & Entertainment Chiwetel Ejiofor in '12 Years A Slave' – the Steve McQueen epic has been nominated for seven Golden Globes 'I didn't want to be the guy that messed it up' film12 Years a Slave's British star Chiwetel Ejiofor felt the weight of responsibility before taking role Life & Style [fashion-front] Shop next season, this season: Your smart guide to the sales fashion News Christopher Poole spent £1,000 on trying to win a competition at Nando's, to find that it had closed. Man spends £1,000 to win Nando's competition only to find it had closed news Arts & Entertainment Marion Cotillard, pictured here in 2012 Marion Cotillard on life after Edith Piaf film Sport Andy Murray: 'A player has to deliver, it's nothing to do with how much he cost' Andy Murray exclusive interview sportThe world No 4 on rehab, Doha and his hopes for the Aussie Open Life & Style Rhodri Marsden buys his 'milibit' online Everyone wants a piece of the Bitcoin action techHow easy is it to get hold of the virtual currency - and is it worth it? Life & Style [dating-rx] Full-length pic or selfie? Inside or outside? And which emoticon? lifeThe secrets to finding love online Arts & Entertainment Three's a crowd: Linda Robson, Lesley Joseph and Pauline Quirke in 'Birds of a Feather' Feathered friends return, but the Essex jokes no longer take off TV Review: Birds of a Feather reboot struggles for relevance in post-Thatcher Britain Arts & Entertainment Pleased as punch: Idris Elba and Naomie Harris star in 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' A long walk... down the middle of the road filmReview: Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom seems like box-ticking [News-140x2] Independent Travel Shop [divide] [bruges_124] Bruges by Eurostar Three nights from £259pp Find out more [divide] [malta_16_1] All-inclusive Malta seven nights from £249pp Find out more [divide] [pompei_124] Pompeii, Capri and the Bay of Naples seven nights from £719 Find out more [divide] Elephant Appeal donate now > Please provide search keyword(s) [ ] [Go] • Advanced Search • Article archive • Topics • Most Viewed • Most Commented • Most Shared • Awkward positioning: Francois Hollande goes for a handshake with Austrian President Heinz Fischer but misses the target Let’s (not) shake on it! Pictures of international snubs prove François Hollande’s popularity problem • [Cameron-Lol] David Cameron: Prime Minister becomes catalogue man in most comically staged photoshoot of his career • North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks past his uncle Jang Song Thaek - Jang Song Thaek is reported to have been executed for 'attempting to overthrow the state' Kim Jong-un's executed uncle Jang Song Thaek 'stripped naked, fed to 120 dogs as officials watched' • Christopher Poole spent £1,000 trying to win a competition at Nando's, to find that it had closed. Man spends £1,000 trying to win Nando's competition only to find it had closed • Michael Schumacher’s fans were determined not to let his 45th birthday pass by unmarked, and left scores of tributes. Michael Schumacher latest: Fans hold silent vigil outside F1 champion’s hospital for his 45th birthday • Migrants will have to pay at A&E – and all patients will have to prove they are not foreigners to get free NHS treatment Oliver Wright • Waitrose faces middle class revolt over free coffee loyalty card Maria Tadeo • MP's call for calm over mass immigration as Bulgarians and Romanians arrive in the UK Maria Tadeo • As EU work restrictions are lifted for Romanian and Bulgarian migrants, the influx has begun... of Britons heading for Bucharest Emily Dugan • Mass immigration 'unlikely' as millions of Romanians and Bulgarians find work elsewhere Andy McSmith • Nigel Farage calls on Government to let Syrian refugees into UK Tomas Jivanda • 1 Women are offered a range of safe options for childbirth and most have a positive experience A call from the midwife: Why I am resigning after 10 years in the NHS • 2 [romanian] Unhappy? Just blame immigrants! • 3 This innocuous ball of fluff has become a viral hit after it was investigated by an unsuspecting member of public... Terrifying 'Spider Vine' video shows why you should never poke unexplained balls of fluff • 4 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks past his uncle Jang Song Thaek - Jang Song Thaek is reported to have been executed for 'attempting to overthrow the state' Kim Jong-un's executed uncle Jang Song Thaek 'stripped naked, fed to 120 dogs as officials watched' • 5 Christopher Poole spent £1,000 trying to win a competition at Nando's, to find that it had closed. Man spends £1,000 trying to win Nando's competition only to find it had closed independent images Kumbuka, a Western Lowland gorilla, in his enclosure during ZSL London Zoo's annual stocktake of animals UK: Zoo’s annual animal stocktake Women carry offerings at a ceremony honoring Iemanja, Goddess of the Sea, as part of traditional New Year's celebrations on the sands of Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro Brazil celebrates a sea goddess The international Red Cross said that the road from Bor to the nearby Awerial area 'is lined with thousands of people' waiting for boats so they could cross the Nile River and that the gathering of displaced 'is the largest single identified concentration of displaced people in the country so far' South Sudan: Victims of conflict Sylvain Dupuis takes the Scottish Highlands from a paraglider as a part of an aerial journey into the Scottish wilderness with motorised paragliders High Land adventure Members of the public wearing fancy dress enter the water as they join around 1,000 New Year swimmers, many in costume, in front of the Forth Rail Bridge during the annual Loony Dook Swim in the River Forth in South Queensferry New Year's Polar Bear Swim A drummer in the Claudia Taylor 'Lady Bird' Johnson High School band participates in the 125th Rose Parade in Pasadena, California The 125th annual Rose Parade 'Elephant in Mist' by David Gulden. Gulden documents the declining landscape of African wildlife Elephant Appeal 3 January 2014: Christmas decorations at the Little Venice Caravan Park in Yalding, Kent, as flood waters return to the site after recent bad weather Britain in pictures 3 January 2014: Workers adjust Chinese traditional lanterns for the upcoming Chinese New Year at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia World in pictures Brad Haddin makes his fifth consecutive first-innings score of more than 50 in the final Test against England Sport in pictures • < Previous • 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • Next > SPONSORED FEATURES [indy-ncp-sp] Five things to do for a fiver in London this December This Christmas, you can park in one of NCP’s ten most popular London car parks for just £5 for six hours of parking at selected times during weekdays and the weekend. Prizes & offers Business videos [comps] Enter the latest Independent competitions Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page. NCP Parking Business videos [IBM] Business videos from commercial thought leaders Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business. NCP Parking Prizes & offers Independent Dating Show Me [Women] Between: [18 ] and [30 ] Location: [-- Select -- ] By clicking 'Search' you are agreeing to our Terms of Use. [] iJobs Job Widget iJobs General QA Automation Exploratory Tester (Java, BURP, ZAP, Selenium) £50000 - £60000 per annum + Benefits: Harrington Starr: QA Automation Explorat... Personal Tax Supervisor - London £35000 - £45000 per annum: Pro-Recruitment Group: With 2 brand new Tax Partner... **Corporate Tax Assistant Manager** £35000 - £50000 per annum: Pro-Recruitment Group: Working in conjunction with ... English Teacher Negotiable: Capita Education Resourcing Permanent Team: Teacher of English - H... View the latest from iJobs Day In a Page • Sun • Mon • Tue • Wed • Thu • Fri • Sat [3 ] [January ] [2014] Go UK weather: Severe weather warnings as high tides put coastline at high risk of flooding Britain braces for flooding as high tides batter coastline Most severe flood warnings issued in South West US embassy in South Sudan to evacuate more staff from Juba US embassy in South Sudan evacuated The move comes as security continues to deteriorate in the capital Snapchat hack of 4.6m users' data prompts the company to release updated app Snapchat updates app after security breach 4.6m users' data was released Ashes 2013-14 podcast: 'It was a story of that man again, Brad Haddin. It was groundhog day' Ashes podcast 'It was a story of that man again, Brad Haddin. It was groundhog day' Mars One: 1000 chosen to take part in 'reality TV' selection to make one way trip to red planet 1000 chosen for Mars One reality show Show will determine 40 people that will travel to Red Planet Thatcher nearly sent in the Army to crush miners, secret papers reveal Thatcher nearly sent in the Army to crush miners, secret papers reveal Files released under the 30-year rule reveal how government tried to stifle NUM’s Soviet funding Andy Murray exclusive interview Andy Murray exclusive interview The world No 4 on rehab, Doha and his hopes for the Aussie Open Get a piece of the Bitcoin action: How easy is it to lay your hands on the virtual currency? Get a piece of the Bitcoin action How easy is it to lay your hands on the virtual currency? Heat, drink and be merry: Hot cocktails are an exotic way to keep the January chills at bay Hot cocktails: Heat, drink and be merry Lena Corner samples the drinks that are an exotic way to keep the January chills at bay The 10 best diaries The 10 best diaries They come in all shapes and sizes and range from discreet to eye-catching orange calfskin. With one of these diaries, you need never miss an appointment A Greek archipelago for €8.5m, a Maltese passport for €1m and Polish castles going for a song... welcome to the great European fire sale Welcome to the great European fire sale A Greek archipelago for €8.5m, a Maltese passport for €1m and Polish castles going for a song A pot of gold? Colorado's pilot scheme to legalise recreational marijuana could raise millions in tax dollars... Colorado's pot of gold? The state's pilot scheme to legalise recreational marijuana could raise millions in tax dollars Sherlock review: So, how did the great detective fake his own death? Sherlock review: So, how did the great detective fake his own death? This thoroughly satisfying season opener proves that the show's co-creator Mark Gatiss knows us fans better than we know ourselves Virtual reality just got real: Could the Oculus Rift change the way we play, work and learn? Virtual reality just got real Could the Oculus Rift change the way we play, work and learn? Down among the dead men: Best-selling author Simon Winchester recalls his first big mistake as a mortuary assistant Down among the dead men Best-selling author Simon Winchester recalls his first big mistake as a mortuary assistant • Terms & Policies • Privacy Policy • Cookie policy • Code of Conduct • Complaint form • Email newsletters • RSS • Contact Us • Subscriptions • Apps • Work for us • Evening Standard • Homes & Property • iJobs • Advertising Guide • Syndication • Novaya Gazeta (English) • ES Business Connections • ES Rentals © independent.co.uk The Independent Please provide search keyword(s) [ ] [Go] • Advanced Search • Article archive • Topics * Quantcast