Brussels, 13/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - The 17 MEPs from Beppe Grillo's Five Star movement in Italy will join forces with Nigel Farage and the EFD (Europe of Freedom and Democracy) if the British mischief-maker manages to set up a grouping. This was how the Five Star activists voted in an online vote between three options - joining Nigel Farage's EFD, joining the Conservatives in the ECR (which includes the British Tories and the anti-euro German MEPs of the AFD) or remaining non-affiliated.
The option of joining Farage was chosen by 23,000 of the 29,000 votes (nearly 80%), with 12% (3,533 votes) going for remaining non-affiliated and 10% (2,930 votes) for joining up with the Tories. The once mooted idea of an alliance with the European Greens under Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts was not one of the options voted upon.
Farage welcomed this sign of confidence, saying that, together with Grillo, they would form the dream-team that would cause nightmares in Brussels. (SP)