M5S draws hard line on Ukraine arms before coalition talks
Giuseppe Conte stood before more than a thousand supporters at the Wireless in Milano on Saturday and announced that his party's mandate was settled. The leader of the Italy-based Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) said he would not dilute the programme his membership had drawn up — starting with no more weapons for Ukraine.
From listening tour to binding programme
The event, called Nova, marks the end of a participatory process that began in April. Over more than 100 stages across the country, the party collected ideas and proposals from over 17,000 citizens, both members and non-members. The result is a 20-point programme now being voted on by the membership, which will form the M5S negotiating position for any future centre-left coalition.
Conte said the document reflects a clear mandate. "We must build paths to peace, with war we go nowhere. Weapons distance peace," he told the crowd. He reiterated that Italy needs to invest in citizens' real needs — healthcare, schools, families and businesses — rather than what he called a "war economy".
The former prime minister framed the choice starkly: the country should open "construction sites of hope — nurseries, schools, universities, research and innovation — not war construction sites and arsenals full of weapons".
What the proposed programme contains
The programme spans 20 thematic areas. The most contentious for coalition partners is paragraph 17, titled "L'Italia ripudia la guerra" (Italy rejects war). It calls for a "radical change" to what the M5S calls the "failed approach" of Italy and Europe toward Ukraine, arguing that continuing to send weapons means distancing peace.
The text also sets out two other non-negotiables: opposition to the EU Rearm plan and rejection of any increase in defence spending to 5% of GDP in line with NATO targets.
Other proposals in the package include:
• A reintroduction of the offence of "abuse of office" for public officials
• Legal regulation of cannabis
• Reduction of working hours with equal pay
• A redesigned citizens' income, labelled "Reddito 2.0"
• Equal parental leave
• Redirecting funds from the planned Ponte sullo Stretto bridge project to schools
A separate "Generational Pact" is open for a youth vote, addressing issues specific to younger Italians.
Coalition partners push back
The M5S position on Ukraine puts it at odds with the Partito Democratico (PD), its main potential ally in what has been dubbed the "broad field" — a progressive alliance aimed at challenging the centre-right government.
PD secretary Elly Schlein, speaking at the Festa dell'Unità in Foligno, said she was "certain we will find agreement on everything" after discussing a common programme with allied forces. But internal party reactions were cooler. Senator Filippo Sensi, from the party's reformist wing, criticised the M5S stance as cynical. "In these hours there are dozens dead and almost 100 wounded from Russian bombings on Ukraine. And we stand there hanging on those preaching to stop helping Ukrainians. Cynicism, hypocrisy," Sensi said.
Former prime minister Enrico Letta noted the support given to Ukraine is "defensive, not offensive", adding that on Russia-Ukraine "we must be very clear".
Carlo Calenda, leader of the Italy-based party Azione (Action), was blunter. Addressing Schlein, he said: "You will certainly find an agreement with Conte. But you will do it by pulling down your pants." Calenda argued that what is at stake is "the future of Europe and our freedom".
Public opinion appears to lean M5S way
Recent polling suggests the M5S position may be closer to majority Italian sentiment. An Ixè poll released on 10 September found only 18% of Italians favour continuing military support for Ukraine "as long as necessary". A survey by Termometro Politico on 14 September showed 55% opposed to sending arms.
The same research found that even among PD voters, support for military aid does not reach an absolute majority, with 44% in favour and 33% against.
Conte told Rete4 television he looks at polls but they are "not determinative for the political action we are conducting". An Ipsos-Doxa survey cited by the party puts him ahead of Schlein in a hypothetical primary, though he has not formally declared himself a candidate for coalition leader.
Opposition to any government overture
The Nova event also surfaced resistance to cooperation with the current government. PD secretary Schlein had written a letter proposing dialogue with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration over how to use €14 billion available for energy transition through 2028. Both Angelo Bonelli of the Green-European Left alliance Avs and Conte rejected the idea.
Nicola Fratoianni, leader of the left-wing party Sinistra Italiana and part of the Avs coalition, expressed strong doubts. "I think there is little to collaborate on with this government for the choices it has made and continues to make," he said.
Michele Gubitosa, M5S vice-president, struck a similar note when discussing potential returning defectors. "We must put ourselves in the perspective where no one can exercise blackmail power and condition the coalition's objectives," he said. "We don't just have to win the next elections, we have to last five years to change the country."
High-profile speakers back the platform
The two-day gathering featured economists and international figures aligned with the party's anti-war stance. Jeremy Rifkin, James Kenneth Galbraith and Jeffrey Sachs addressed the assembly. Sachs, a United Nations advisor, has long advocated for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict based on Ukrainian neutrality.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, also spoke, as did climate scientist Luca Mercalli and geologist Mario Tozzi.
A "Nova Peace Forum" ran alongside the main event, while former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and prosecutor Roberto Scarpinato are scheduled for the second day.
Former M5S deputy Alessandro Di Battista, recently returned from Cuba after a serious health crisis, received a standing ovation. "We are with you Ale! Come back to us, we still have many battles that unite us, hurry up," Conte said from the stage.
Voting by party members on the 20-point programme runs through Sunday, with Conte expected to close the event in the evening.
