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The anti-establishment Five Star Movement, led by comedian-come-activist Beppe Grillo, received a boost to their support after Mr Renzi quit as PM ollowing a failed referendum on constitutional reform last year. Now a general election is believed to be held this June, instead of March 2018 when Mr Renzi’s five-year-term would have originally been up. And Five Star, who have promised a referendum on membership of the Eurozone, plan on benefiting from the split in the ruling Democratic Party (PD) and division in the centre-right.

GETTY Beppe Grillo and Matteo Renzi could go head to head in Italy

GETTY Beppe Grillo is the comedian turned activist at the head of 5-Star

The Ipsos poll in Corriere della Sera newspaper put the party on 32.3 per cent - its highest ever reading and 5.5 points ahead of the PD, which was on 26.8 per cent. The third-largest party was the anti-immigrant Northern League on 12.8 per cent, with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy!) on 12.7 per cent. But Italy is still trying to draw up a new electoral law, based on some form of proportional representation that would reward a stable majority to any group that wins at least 40 per cent of the vote. WHAT IS THE FIVE STAR MOVEMENT?

In pictures: Crises that have crippled Italy Thu, November 2, 2017 The European Union has warned that Italy's economy is not improving Play slideshow EPA 1 of 9 November 2016: Florence erupts in violence as anti-Renzi protesters clash with riot cops. Hooded youths attacked lines of cops protecting embattled prime minister Matteo Renzi, who was in the city for crunch political talks.

The Ipsos poll in Corriere della Sera newspaper put 5-Star on 32.3 per cent - its highest ever reading

While none of the parties currently have enough support to reach that threshold, the Ipsos poll suggests both the centre-left and centre-right blocs would fall well short - leaving the Five Star in the driving seat. However the group has also repeatedly ruled out forming an alliance with other groups; move which could see Italy facing political instability following the next national election. But the country is already facing divide, as the PD threatens to split following a rebellion among Democrat members.

GETTY Matteo Renzi stood down after losing a referendum on constitutional reform

Following Mr Renzi’s resignation last December, Paolo Gentiloni became the new prime minister - but the former PM revealed he would be seeking re-election at a party congress in April or May. A boycott was then proposed in protest against the announcement, with former House whip Robert Sperenza and former leader PierLuigi Bersani refusing the attend the event. While Justice Minister Andrea Orlando and two other members, Gianni Cuperlo and Cesare Damiano, also called on the party to form a new branch "to reform the party”. Now the PD appears to be paying the price for its internal feuds, as it dropped more than three percentage points in a month.

GETTY The five Star Movement secured its highest ever rating in the polls