Crowds gathered at the basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan on Thursday for the funeral of Gianroberto Casaleggio, the founder and 'guru' of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) who died on Tuesday aged 61.
Long applause greeted the arrival of the coffin, first by supporters in the guarded square outside and then by mourners in the basilica.
These included M5S co-founder and close friend Beppe Grillo and the movement's 'directorate' comprising elected representatives Alessandro Di Battista, Luigi Di Maio, Roberto Fico, Carla Ruocco and Carlo Sibilia, who are now faced with the challenge of guaranteeing the transition. Militants in the square outside unfurled a banner reading "we will realise your dream" to general applause. At the end of the funeral militants shouted "honesty, honesty".
Television cameramen, photographers, banners and political symbols were banned from the basilica at the request of Casaleggio's family.
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