Comedian-turned-politician Beppe
Grillo, leader of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S),
had to defend himself from fresh accusations of sexism on
Thursday after suggesting the five women heading centre-left
Democratic Party (PD) lists in the upcoming European Parliament
elections had been chosen according to the "best Berlusconi
tradition".
"Being a woman is not a value in and of itself," wrote the
controversial firebrand leader on his blog in relation to
Wednesday's decision by PD Secretary and Premier Matteo Renzi to
put four female MPs - Alessia Mosca, Alessandra Moretti, Simona
Bonafé and Pina Picierno - and female magistrate Caterina
Chinnici at the top of the lists of party candidates for Italy's
five constituencies in the May 25 poll.
The four MPs "are women used for marketing purposes
according to the best Berlusconi tradition: four showgirls and
Renzie as Gabibbo," continued Grillo in reference to the red
mascot for Italy's Canale 5 television channel, part of the
ex-premier's Mediaset empire.
Grillo's comments generated immediate criticism from
members of the PD.
"Grillo insults women in the best misogynist and sexist
tradition," said PD House whip Roberto Speranza.
"The people chosen by the PD to head the lists are members
of parliament with a strong commitment to their base and to the
institutions and are respected by citizens: they are in the
House due to undisputed merits seen during this last year of
parliament.
"Any inference is an offence to the entire party group that
we categorically reject".
However the move by Renzi has also created tension within
the PD.
On Thursday the popular mayor of Bari and Puglia regional
party coordinator Michele Emiliano described his candidacy as
"superfluous" in light of the decision.
"I agreed to head the list (in the Southern Italy
constituency) because Renzi asked me to," said Emiliano.
"Now a different choice has made my candidacy superflous,"
he continued.
And the mayor of Lampedusa, Giusi Nicolini, at the
forefront of efforts to draw attention to the plight of migrants
landing on the Sicilian island, said she would be withdrawing
from the list for the island's constituency on grounds the party
had acted according to "a logic that deprived her candidacy of
all significance".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
