~ è disponibile una versione in italiano della lettera ~

Mr. Verhofstadt, don’t.

Don’t strike a deal with Beppe Grillo.

Don’t partner behind closed-doors with the Movimento Cinque Stelle (M5S).

Don’t let them get into the ALDE Group.

Don’t offer them the chance to kill our best hopes.

This morning we woke up and thought this was just another piece of fake news. But an hour later Grillo called for an online vote to decide with whom the M5S should join forces in the European Parliament. Throughout the day, other Europeans from several countries called to ask our opinion about the M5S, wondering whether such an apparently unlikely alliance with the liberals would make sense at all — at least for the liberals.

This is why, as citizens whose lives have deeply been shaped by the European Union, we have decided to address this open letter to you. We want you to know— as the leader of the most relevant movement of liberals across Europe — that there is a limit to where realpolitik can go.

When the M5S welcomed the Brexit vote as an “extraordinary success”, you described it as an existential threat to the European Union.

On all the main issues — from labour to migration, from trade to justice — there is a serious gap between your two political forces in terms of values, not just policy choices.

If you want an example, just take one of the most advanced European projects — the common currency. We all agree that the governance and policies of the Eurozone require serious reform, but the M5S has called time and again for a referendum to have Italy abandon the euro — which is a no-way-back to start a domino effect that would definitely bury any prospect for further integration at the European level.

Not to mention the doubtful practices promoted by Beppe Grillo when it comes to M5S internal democracy and decision-making — of which what is going on in these very hours is just a further confirmation.

The document posted below proves in fact how Beppe Grillo and yourself have not only already agreed to join forces, but also on what basis. A document where — paradoxically — both ALDE and M5S call for more transparency.

We believe all M5S activists — who were told to trust online direct democracy — will be happy to know they were asked to take a fake democratic decision. As much as we believe that all liberals across Europe who have been looking sympathetically at your candidature as president of the European Parliament will be happy to know this is the price you seem ready to pay. While your declared desire to renew political life in Europe deserves praise, it seems so difficult, Mr Verhofstadt, to reconcile it with these methods.

Europe has ensured peace and prosperity for decades. Even recently, it has created opportunities for many young Europeans, while being blamed by national governments and nationalist political parties for their own shortcomings in addressing youth unemployment. And yet, even for the most firm believers in the European project, it is difficult to defend the EU as it stands today. Still, we don’t see how you could be able to push European integration further by embracing the M5S.

This is why we discourage you, Mr Verhofstadt, from pursuing this disgraceful alliance with Beppe Grillo.

Alcide De Gasperi once said: “a politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation”.

It’s your time to show all Europeans which side you stand on.

Alberto Alemanno, Alessandro Fusacchia, Francesco Galtieri, Giuseppe Ragusa, Valerio Riavez, Alessio Terzi

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