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5 Star Movement (M5S) member Daniele Toninelli said on TV show InOnda that Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni should consider calling a Brexit-like referendum in order to ensure Italian citizens express their current views on membership of the European bloc. “Europe is crashing by itself. We’d like to try and save it, but to try and save it we need to make important decisions.” “And the important decision could be holding a referendum. Even if consultative, it’s a serious political action that gives Italian citizens the chance to show their opinion.”

La7/Getty M5S MP Daniele Toninelli dared Italian PM Gentiloni to call a referendum to exit the European Union

Over the past few months Toninelli’s party has been particularly critical of the EU and other member states due to the detachment they have shown from Italy's problems, such as Austria’s threat to close the border should more illegal migrants try to enter the country. The Southern European country has been welcoming nearly 85,000 migrants since January 2017 as part of Operation Triton, an Italian-controlled security operation conducted by the EU agency FRONTEX. Toninelli blasted French PM Emmanuel Macron for having “not giving a damn about Italy” despite his statements of solidarity towards the country. He blamed EU law such as the Dublin III Regulation for the chaotic situation Italy has been forced to face, as it puts full managing and bureaucratic responsibility for migrants on the arriving seaports’ countries.