Brussels, 13/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - Beppe Grillo, the outsider of Italian politics, whose Five Star Movement caused surprise during the last legislative elections in Italy, coming in thirdin terms of the number of representatives elected, does not believe that Italy's future lies in the eurozone. “Italy has de facto already left the eurozone … the countries of northern Europe will keep Italy in the eurozone until they have recovered the investment made by their banks in the Italian State's securities. After that, they will drop us like a hot potato”, he said speaking in an interview with the German economic daily, Handelsblatt, published on Wednesday 13 March.
The humourist turned politician argues that he is not anti-European. He seeks to be reassuring, saying: “I simply said that a plan B was needed for Europe. We should ask ourselves what has happened to Europe, why we do not have a common information policy, why we have no common tax policy, no common immigration policy, and why only Germany has grown richer”. Hence, according to Grillo, there is a need to urgently place citizens back at the centre of political decisions. “Europe should not be afraid … What is needed is a clear trend reversal and more democracy”, he pointed out, proposing, not Italy's withdrawal from the Eurozone, but an “online referendum on the euro” (our translation throughout). He also felt the people should have been consulted on the famous “services” directive, or “Bolkestein” directive, and on the Lisbon Treaty. (FG/transl.jl)