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.
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