ROME - 5 Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio Thursday survived a decisive confidence vote in his leadership following his party’s embarrassing performance in the European elections, with 80 per cent of participants backing the deputy prime minister.

 Di Maio found his direction under scrutiny after election results revealed that his party had received six million votes fewer than it did in Italy’s general election, less than a year ago, where it entered a coalition government as the major party with 32.7 per cent of the vote.

 The decline of Di Maio’s party has coincided with the meteoric rise of their coalition partners, the far-right League, who won over twice as much of the vote as the 5 Star Movement in the EU ballot, 34.2 per cent to 17.1 per cent, capping off a marked swing in popularity.

 Di Maio, who went into the vote with the support of some of the party’s top members, said that a reorganisation of the party, and an assessment of its position, was vital to breathe new life in the movement. However, he recognised the importance of first establishing whether the party should move forward with him at the helm or elect a new leader altogether.

 “Before any other decision [is made]… I want to hear the voice of the citizens who elected me as political leader a few years ago,” Di Maio said.

 “If I am reconfirmed [as leader], we will not stand still, things must change,” Di Maio added. “The M5S never loses, it either wins or it learns… this is our story and now we must start again.”

 When asked the question: “Do you confirm Luigi Di Maio as political head of the M5S?” via Rousseau, the party’s online platform which helps shape much of the M5S’ decision making and policy stances, all but 20 per cent of voters backed their leader. 44,849 M5S supporters stood by Di Maio, with 11,278 hoping to see a new leader take over. The turnout, 56,127 people in total, made the vote the largest in Rousseau’s history as well as in the history of digital democracy.

 Di Maio took to Facebook to thank his supporters shortly after the election results were revealed. “The reconfirmation of my role is only the first step towards a thorough reorganisation of the M5S to make it closer to citizens and to emphasise our identity.”

 He stressed the importance of restructuring the party’s approach to the economy, businesses, the environment, health and communication before thanking all those who had taken part in the poll, regardless of how they had voted.

 Fellow deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini also added his thoughts following the result: “I have worked well with Di Maio for nine months, his is a serious, loyal person… I just hope he still has control of the majority of the Senate to be able to pass laws, [but] we will find out in the coming weeks.”

ea