M5S, Conte: no ad armi e riarmo. E rilancia la svolta negoziale sull’Ucraina: «Gli europei ci appoggeranno»

Giuseppe Conte, president of Italy's Five Star Movement (M5S), warned allies during a two-day conference in Milan that the movement's mandate is clear: "No to weapons and rearmament." The event, titled "Nova, Parola all’Italia," brought together thousands of participants to shape the party's policy agenda for upcoming elections. Before the voting concluded on the 20 proposed points, a firm stance against arms and military spending emerged as a central theme. Conte emphasized this position immediately upon taking the stage, receiving applause from his supporters. "We have a clear and precise mandate," Conte stated without waiting for the vote results. "We need to build paths toward peace. War leads nowhere. Weapons drive away peace. There is a need to invest where citizens, families, and businesses truly require support, not in a war economy, not in rearmament." He further argued that a shift toward diplomatic solutions in Ukraine is essential. The Italian government could lead such efforts without becoming isolated in Europe, he added. This stance contrasts sharply with the main ally of the M5S, the center-left Democratic Party (PD), which has been more open to supporting military aid to Ukraine. Conte emphasized that the mandate derived from the grassroots will not be diluted for political survival. He cited a recent survey showing him ahead of PD Secretary Elly Schlein in potential primary elections, though he noted that polls are not decisive for political action. Instead, he focused on defining a shared program with coalition partners. Schlein echoed similar sentiments at the PD's Unity Festival in Foligno, stating that the party prioritizes a common program as the public expects. Conte suggested he would approach negotiations from a position of strength, asserting that he would not compromise on the mandate received from Nova. "This clear mandate honors and responsibilities me," he said. "I will fulfill it with maximum determination, firmness, and clarity. Do not think I am willing to dilute it because everything becomes drifting and living off politics." Deputy Mayor Chiara Appendino urged allies to hold primaries, saying, "If anyone is afraid of holding primaries, those who invented them, the Democratic Party, say so. We are ready, our president is prepared, we want our president to be the leader of the coalition." The issue of opposition to arms continues to divide the broad left coalition. Appendino insisted that others should reconsider their positions, while PD Vice President Vittoria Baldino believed a consensus could be reached with PD and the Alliance for Italy (Avs), emphasizing common goals of ending the conflict and restoring Europe’s role as a protagonist. However, some within the PD, including Senator Filippo Sensi, criticized the stance as cynical and hypocritical, especially given the ongoing casualties in Ukraine. The M5S conference will conclude tomorrow, but the first day highlighted the firm stance against arms. Meanwhile, Conte paid tribute to Alessandro Di Battista, the former MP, who recently returned home after hospitalization. Addressing the crowd, Conte said, "Let me ask everyone here to give a big hug to a companion of this community: Alessandro Di Battista, Dibba for us. We are with you, Ale. Come back to us. We have many battles that unite us. Be strong, come back soon." His remarks were met with prolonged applause, with the audience standing in solidarity with Di Battista. Following his release from the Gemelli Hospital, Di Battista thanked medical staff and those who supported him, indicating he plans to share his recovery journey in the coming weeks. Conte reiterated that the M5S's focus should be on creating opportunities for peace and security through cooperation rather than military deterrence. He expressed confidence that European populations would support such initiatives and stressed the importance of a bold vision to influence others positively. He noted that the four-and-a-half-year period marked by military bets had shown the need for a new direction. His message was clear: the M5S aims to lead a transformative path centered on dialogue and investment in societal well-being rather than militarization.