Genoa prosecutors on Friday placed
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) Beppe Grillo and M5S MP
Alessandro Di Battista under investigation after former M5S
Genoa mayoral candidate Marika Cassimatis filed suit against
them for defamation after winning an online poll among
candidates but then being canned by Grillo.
"It's David against Goliath", Cassimatis said on Facebook,
thanking her supporters and saying: "We are facing a battle for
legality and transparency".
"What happened in Genoa could happen anywhere. It's a battle
for all".
She published a Postpay number where supports can help "our
legal battle for democracy and justice".
Earlier this week Cassimatis appealed to a civil court in the
northwestern Italian city Grillo's decision to replace her with
the second-placed candidate who was more to his liking.
The civil suit asks the court for her and her list to be
reinstated.
Cassimatis had already filed the defamation suit against
Grillo and M5S bigwig Di Battista, and has now said she has also
filed another suit because of physical threats she received the
day after she won the poll.
Grillo announced that he was dropping Cassimatis on March 17.
On his blog, Grillo said the movement had "no space for those
who are only looking for a post".
He also said that many people on Cassimatis' electoral list
had "repeatedly and continually damaged the image of the
Movement".
Grillo then approved Luca Pirondini, who placed second in the
poll that Cassimatis won.
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