The 5-Star Movement (M5S) has
descended into civil war with leader and ex-premier Giuseppe
Conte openly at loggerheads with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio,
the group's former head.
The M5S's national council held a four-hour meeting overnight to
discuss Di Maio's criticism of Conte's stance that Italy should
not sent any more weapons to Ukraine following the Russian
invasion.
Di Maio said this would lead to Italy's position no longer being
in line with its EU and NATO allies.
Conte argues that continuing to give military aid to Kyiv risks
prolonging the war and the suffering it is causing.
There had been speculation that Sunday's M5S meeting would lead
to Di Maio being expelled from the movement.
This did not happen but the prospect of the minister being
ejected is not off the table and a split is seen as likely by
many political analysts.
The situation could escalate further on Tuesday when Premier
Mario Draghi will report to parliament on the war in Ukraine and
lawmakers will vote on a resolution linked to that.
Tension with the M5S is high after it did badly in a recent
round of local elections.
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