Its latest poll ratings were little better than those of the maverick Five Star Movement led by Beppe Grillo, a blogger and comedian.

ECONOMIST: Italian politics

Several polls now suggest that the most popular option among voters after the centre-left Democratic Party is the Five Star Movement, led by a comedian and blogger, Beppe Grillo.

ECONOMIST: Italy and the euro: Are we next? | The

In a climate of widespread public disillusionment with politics, comedian and blogger Beppe Grillo is also making gains by capturing the protest vote with his Five Star Movement.

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