Italy's Five-Star Movement Reshuffles Leadership as Internal Divisions Resurface

The Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) is asking its members to ratify a reshuffled leadership team under President Giuseppe Conte, with the appointment of six vice-presidents — signaling an organizational expansion within one of Italy's most volatile political forces.

Why This Matters

• Vote date: M5S members will vote online all day Friday, February 27, 2026 to approve or reject Conte's proposed leadership slate.

• Paola Taverna returns as deputy president with executive authority, flanked by Michele Gubitosa and Mario Turco; three new figures — Vittoria Baldino, Ettore Licheri, and Stefano Patuanelli — join with specific delegated portfolios.

• The expanded leadership team comes as the party seeks to strengthen its organizational structure and parliamentary presence.

• Members will also approve four committee coordinators responsible for projects, training, European relations, and territorial coordination.

Why Conte Is Reshuffling the Executive Team

When Conte was re-elected president in October 2025 with 89.3% of the vote, the result appeared overwhelming. The reshuffled team now includes three holdovers — Taverna, who has been a vice-president since 2021, plus Gubitosa and Turco — and three new entrants: Baldino, a current deputy; Licheri, a senator; and Patuanelli, a former agriculture minister and Senate group leader.

Conte's expansion of the leadership circle appears designed to strengthen the party structure across multiple areas and coordinate party activities more effectively.

What the New Leadership Will Actually Do

Taverna, who holds the vicaria role — effectively making her Conte's deputy with authority to act on his behalf — will remain the most senior figure below the president.

The three new appointees bring distinct profiles. Patuanelli, a former minister, offers institutional credibility and continuity with the M5S's brief experience in government. Licheri and Baldino represent the parliamentary backbone of the party, the legislators who must negotiate day-to-day in Rome while managing relations with coalition partners. All three will receive specific delegated powers, though Conte has not yet disclosed the exact division of labor.

Beyond the vice-presidents, Conte has nominated a second tier of committee coordinators:

• Gianluca Perilli for the National Projects Committee, responsible for filtering legislative proposals before they reach the wider membership.

• Pasquale Tridico, former president of Italy's social security agency (INPS), will head the Training and Development Committee.

• Laura Ferrara takes the European and International Relations Committee, a critical post given M5S's relationship with European policy.

• Mariassunta "Susy" Matrisciano will coordinate Territorial Relations, managing the party's relationship with regional and municipal chapters.

All of these appointments must be ratified in the February 27, 2026 online vote, which will run for the full 24 hours to maximize participation among M5S's roughly 100,000 registered members.

What This Means for Residents

For ordinary Italians, M5S's internal organization may seem distant from daily life, but the party's trajectory has direct consequences:

• Coalition Stability: M5S holds critical seats in both chambers of parliament. If internal tensions affect party cohesion, it could impact the stability of any coalition and affect legislative priorities like pension reform, labor market changes, or public procurement.

• Policy Direction: The composition of M5S's leadership will influence the party's policy priorities and negotiating positions within coalition arrangements. For citizens navigating Italy's bureaucracy, these decisions matter.

• Local Governance: With Matrisciano coordinating territorial relations, the party is signaling renewed focus on municipal and regional chapters. If M5S can strengthen local capacity, it may influence mayoral races and regional elections through 2026 and 2027.

The February 27, 2026 Referendum and What Comes Next

Conte has framed the vote as a "ratification of trust" in his leadership team, telling members: "Now it's your turn to vote and decide if you agree with this squad." The phrasing is deliberate: he is positioning the vote as a referendum on collective confidence in the new structure.

Turnout and approval rates will be closely watched. Conte's October 2025 re-election saw 89.3% approval, but that vote had no real alternative; he ran unopposed. The February 27, 2026 ballot, while technically about ratifying nominees, will serve as a gauge for member satisfaction with Conte's direction.

If approval is overwhelming, Conte will claim a mandate to continue his current strategy. If dissent is visible — say, less than 75% approval or significant abstentions — it will indicate internal divisions and potentially complicate his relationship with coalition partners who need to know whether M5S can deliver votes reliably.

For now, Conte is projecting confidence. "There are many challenges we are facing and will have to face in the near future," he posted on social media. "We will all be called to strengthen our commitment, both individually and as a team." Whether that team can deliver on M5S's priorities remains to be seen as Italy approaches important electoral cycles in 2026 and 2027.