GETTY Five Star insisted it was still pushing for a referendum on the future of the euro

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Alessandro Di Battista, a powerful figure in Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S), revived his party's calls for a referendum on euro membership after it appeared some of his colleagues had gone soft on the issue. The MP, one of the movement's most prominent parliamentarians, was asked in an interview if a vote should be held - to which he replied: "Yes, absolutely." The party was founded by comedian Beppe Grillo and members quickly started campaigning for the vote in 2015, saying the people should have their say and Italy needed to restore its fiscal and monetary sovereignty.

GETTY Alessandro Di Battista reignited calls for a referendum on the euro

But it was not the only party with an anti-EU agenda as the Northern League also ran a campaign calling for the end of the euro, no immigrants and lower taxes. By March this year, M5S appeared to be distancing itself from its initial calls for a vote on Italy’s currency. Lower house deputy Luigi Di Maio, 30, who is widely expected to be Five Star’s candidate for prime minister, said the euro referendum would take time to organise, and tackling poverty in Italy was more urgent.

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We have not changed our position at all. We have always proposed a consultative referendum [on the euro], the only kind possible. Alessandro Di Battista, Five Star Movement (M5S)

He said: "In the meantime we hope that European institutions come to their senses. "It's not true that 5-Star wants to take Italy out of the euro. We want Italians to decide." And since then, several other senior members played down the referendum plan as the party sought to broaden its appeal in the build-up to next year's national election - with one describing it as just a "negotiating tool".

GETTY Beppe Grillo founded the Five Star Movement