5-Star Movement expels two MPs

(ANSA) - Rome, November 27 - The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) on Thursday expelled Lower House MPs Massimo Artini and Paola Pinna for allegedly violating party rules by failing to return a share of their stipend.
    The expulsions were approved in online voting by the rank and file through the blog of firebrand leader Beppe Grillo. More than 27,000 people took part, with over 69% voting to expel the two alleged culprits.
    Pinna earlier denied the accusations, saying she donated a share of her wages into a fund for small-and-medium businesses and to Catholic relief agency Caritas.
    M5S MP Patrizia Terzoni and Parma Mayor Federico Pizzarotti - himself threatened with expulsion from the movement earlier this year - came out in her defence but M5S Senator Vito Petrocelli was less understanding.
    "There are still many 'casual tourists' among M5S elected representatives and so-called activists," he wrote in a message on his Twitter account.
    M5S has always been strongly critical of the high salaries paid to Italian MPs, pledging to cap its own representatives' wages during its 2013 campaign.