Renzi meets with M5S defectors

(ANSA) - Rome, January 28 - Premier Matteo Renzi on Wednesday met with a delegation of former members of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) to talk about the upcoming vote on a successor to ex-president of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.
    "He asked us how many we are and what our orientation is," said MP Marco Baldassarre.
    "There are approximately 25 of us and we will not moot anyone. We said no to (ex premier Giuliano) Amato, but we are not opposed to the candidacy of (former deputy premier Sergio) Mattarella," he added.
    So far the M5S has expelled or lost to defection 18 Lower House deputies and 17 Senators. Tuesday's walkout of 10 defectors was the latest in a long series of losses for the M5S after the party won a quarter of the vote in the 2013 general election. Disillusionment among lawmakers with movement leader Beppe Grillo's uncompromising stance on refusing to reach agreements with the traditional parties and with his allegedly authoritarian running of the movement are largely to blame.