ROME -- Failure to move from Nigel Farage’s Euro-sceptic group to a partnership with the Pro-EU ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) has resulted in significant effects for the Five Star Movement as the party lost two Members of European Parliament Wednesday.

 By the end of the day the delegation had reduced from 17 to 15 after Marco Zanni moved to the ENF group (Europe of Nations and Freedom), which brings together the Northern League and the National Front, and Mark Affronte also left, heading to the Gruppo dei Verdi (Group of the Greens).

 It was also rumoured that Daniela Aiuto would move to the Greens, yet the Abruzzo MEP countered claims by posting on Twitter, “I deny the rumours of the past few hours, there will be no passage to the Greens.”

 Matteo Salvini, leader of the Lega Nord party, speaking in absence of word from Marco Zanni of the M5s, said of recent speculation over the EU and Italy’s political influence, “We are not afraid of Europe, we are not Europhobic, we simply want to change this current Europe.”

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