M5S rank and file slammed Colomban

(ANSA) - Rome, September 30 - A new appointee in the executive of Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi from the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) has come under fire from the M5S rank and file in the past, it emerged on Friday.
    Businessman Massimo Colomban, who was named cabinet member in charge of publicly controlled companies today, was criticized because in 2010 he ran as a regional candidate in a center-right coalition backing current Veneto Governor Luca Zaia from the rightwing, anti-immigrant Northern League.
    "The most disturbing thing about his biography is his post as honorary commander of the U.S. (nuclear) military base at Aviano," M5S grassroots members posted in a chat. The M5S has a strongly anti-militaristic position, calls for slashing the defence budget, and says Italy should not engage in any international military missions.
    Colomban is among the founders of the Confederation of Italian Productive Activities (ConfAPRI), a pro-business group which was set up in 2012.
    Grassroots M5S members have criticized what they called the "incomprehensible blunder" of Movement bigwigs - such as founder Beppe Grillo, MEP Davide Borrelli, Senator Vito Crimi, and ex-M5S House MP Eleonora Bechis - for joining its think tank.
    "ConfAPRI represents entrepreneurial and working Italy, its youth and its talents who are in search of employment; it represents the military and law enforcement," the association website says on its home page.