Italian election result ‘awkward for Europe’ & populism is only beginning, says professor

Professor Matthew Goodwin suggested the populist wave across Europe is only just beginning after Luigi di Maio’s Five Star Movement secured the highest percent of the vote in the .

Mr Goodwin claimed the election result was “awkward” for Europe, especially as their support came from the younger generation.

Speaking on BBC’s Daily Politics, he said: “They have just had a very good election, they have upped their vote from the last election.

“Five Star are interesting because they were only founded 10 years ago by a comedian.

“It’s slightly ludicrous for people to say this is the status quo and things are okay for Europe, this is quite a shock.

“For a party to come out for nowhere and take over 30 percent of the vote and also to draw a lot of votes from young people too and this is quite an interesting point, especially from the south of which has been hit by both the refugee crisis and by economic stagnation, Five Star are doing well.

“They probably won’t get into coalition, the coalition will be a right-wing coalition. My personal reading is that Luigi di Maio will not become Prime Minister, but it is awkward for Europe that a populist party has finished in first place, and has symbolically won this election, even if it might not enter into the coalition.”

Mr Goodwin added that he thought Europe was only at the beginning of seeing success with anti-establishment parties.

He said: “What we are seeing in Europe I would say is a real historic change that we have not seen before. If we were talking in the 80’s or 90’s we would not be talking about things like this.

“I think we are much closer to the beginning of a new period of volatility and change than we are at the end.

“We have all underestimated the appeal and the potency of what these parties are talking about which is anti-establishment, but is also anchored in specific issues like immigration and the refugee crisis.”

Following Mr Di Maio’s success, the young Italian leader has called on the European Union to give the M5S the chance to form a government despite having signalled his openness towards an anti-EU coalition with the centre-right.

He said: “I appeal to the other European powers, to other European leaders: get to know us before you judge us.”

The Five Star Movement has previously ruled out governing with any other political party, however, following the announcement of the exit polls, Alfonso Bonafede, a close ally of Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio, told La7 television: “We will be a pillar of the legislature.”

The result is likely to concern Brussels who will fear a coalition led by the Five Star Movement will demand major reforms to the EU to return sovereignty to Rome and may even look to hold a referendum on membership of the trade bloc.

Over 50 percent of the Italian electorate voted for eurosceptic parties Five Star Movement, League and Fratelli d’Italia, proving the rise of anti-EU sentiments dominating the campaigns before the election.

With the new Italian electoral law, if no party or coalition reaches a majority, it will be up to President Mattarella to decide which party or coalition will be given the chance to form a government post-election.

Despite gaining the most votes in the election, The Five Star Movement did not gain an overall majority in the Italian election.

Italy looks to be headed for a hung Parliament after Sunday’s general election vote and the race to Government is being fought by Silvio Berlusconi’s Centre-right bloc and Luigi Di Maio’s Five Star Movement (M5S).

Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right party and his far-right allies, Lega Nord, could emerge as the largest bloc in parliament but fall short of a majority.