ROME – Movimento Cinque Stelle have clarified their backing for Italy to remain a member of the EU following a series of questions based on “misinterpretations” of previous statements made by Beppe Grillo, the movement’s leader, a political source reports.

 In an attempt to quell the swirling rumours that M5S was in favour of holding a referendum calling for Italy to leave the EU, Luigi Di Maio, the movement’s spokesperson on Europe, has spoken out, confirming that it is a “referendum to leave the single currency” for which they are campaigning.

 Di Maio adds that it is evident from M5S’s decision to elect 17 europarliamentarians, that they believe that the best way to get a handle on the aspects of EU which don’t function, is to reform the institution from within. On a recent trip to the UK, Di Maio recounts how he was privy to a “political tsunami” and one which, France and Germany must expect, if their far-right parties also succeed in calling referenda on EU membership.

 This clarification from the movement comes in response to sceptics highlighting an abrupt contradiction between M5S’s stance on Europe in a period of less than a year. Yet members of the movement argue that they are merely reiterating what has been said before, “Italian permanence within the EU has never been called in to question”, rather underlining that their argument has always been with the “madness” of the single currency.

 However a referendum on the euro is not the only thing in the movement’s sights, closing his interview, Di Maio launched a personal challenge to the centre-left Democratic Party, calling for the resignation of Italian Prime minister, Matteo Renzi and the elections brought forward to 2017.

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