The anti-establishment 5-Star
Movement (M5S) on Monday voted by 92.6% to 7.4% to expel unruly
Senator Serenella Fucksia.
The vote, which saw 26,630 members take part, took place on
the blog of party leader Beppe Grillo.
Senator Fucksia was formally accused of not obeying the
party's rules that parliamentary stipends have to be fully
handed back.
Fucksia claimed the vote concealed a "power struggle"
between Grillo and rising stars in the movement.
Former comedian Grillo denied the claim.
Fucksia has voted against the party line 253 times.
In particular, she voted with the majority of the Senate
against lifting the parliamentary immunity of former minister
Roberto Calderoli of the rightwing Northern League to face
charges of racially motivated hate speech in saying former
integration minister Cecile Keyenge looked like an orangutan.
Grillo has expelled several M5S members since the 2013
general election.
Their expulsions have been mandated by the movement's
customary online votes.
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