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Luigi Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement, said he would be prepared to call such a vote if European leaders do not agree to ease EU fiscal rules to help struggling Mediterranean economies. He made the remarks as his party stormed into a five per cent lead in the polls, pulling away from the pro-EU Social Democrats who are riven with division and personality clashes. Italy, which is likely to hold its next General Election in March, has long been a source of nervousness for Brussels due to deep seated euroscepticism and dissatisfaction with the project.

GETTY Five Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio

More ordinary Italians now think the euro has been a bad thing (47 per cent) for their country than a good thing (41 per cent) whilst youth unemployment remains stubbornly high. Five Star Movement, whilst not advocating a full break with the EU, has pounced upon people’s dissatisfaction and pledged to seek a full revamp of the eurozone’s spending rules. Rome has been particularly infuriated by tight controls imposed on it by Berlin, designed to stop Governments building up too much debt, which it feels has choked the Italian economy.

Speaking yesterday Mr Di Maio said: “If we succeed, Europe will be changed and we won’t need a referendum on the euro. Otherwise we’ll ask Italians if they want to stay in or not.” His remarks, on Italian TV, came after a new poll showed that the left-wing Social Democrats, led by former PM Matteo Renzi, have plunged to just 23.4 per cent in the polls. In contrast the Five Star Movement is flying high on 28.2 per cent, although unlike its rivals the party stands along and does not have any natural coalition partners to pair up with.

Why these nations could leave the Eurozone Fri, February 24, 2017 Heavily indebted Greece has no acute shortage of money, but will need money again from the ongoing aid programme this summer. But Athens is not the only shaky candidate of the Eurozone. These are the other countries causing worries Play slideshow 1 of 7