Beppe Grillo, leader of the Five Star
Movement (M5S), made a surprise visit to Rome on Thursday to
show support for 59 members of the anti-establishment group who
have been suspended from the Lower House for disorderly conduct
during debate of a Constitutional reform bill in February.
He was to take part in a sit-in outside the parliament
building with the suspended MPs in the afternoon.
The 59 M5S representatives are among 66 MPs who were
suspended on Wednesday in connection with ugly scenes during
non-stop 'river' sessions on February 11-13 used by the House
speaker to combat obstructionist tactics used by opponents to
the reform.
The remaining seven are members of the Northern League,
Left, Ecology, Freedom party, mixed group and Premier Matteo
Renzi's own Democratic Party.
The suspensions range from a minimum of 3 days to a maximum
of 24.
The suspended MPs were opposing a bill to transform the
Senate into a leaner assembly of regional representatives with
limited law-making powers to make passing legislation swifter
and easier.
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