Beppe Grillo returns to television almost ten years after his last appearance when Bruno Vespa interviewed him in 2014. The founder of the 5 Star Movement, guest of Fabio Fazio on “Che tempo che fa”, gave the presenter a bell. “If I run out of sound, play it,” he began, emphasizing that his tone was lowering, “I have to raise my voice, it’s not anger, my anger is good.”
The prelude to a monologue that began as Grillo entered the TV program studio: “I’m here to find out who I am and what you think of me and who you are.” I’m the worst, yes, I’m the worst . I’ve made this country worse, it’s no joke. After the last interview with Vespa we lost elections, the ones I told to fuck are in the government so I’m the worst. I’m here to understand whether to continue or not, I brought Skype, I talked about Parmalat, I fought against the whole world and now I go to a bar and you make me pay for the coffee .. .”
Beppe Grillo’s intervention deviates from the classic Fazio interview pattern. The former leader of the M5S is a show, a theatrical performance that jumps from topic to topic. Always on his feet, playing with the public, Grillo takes advantage of the television appearance to defend his son Ciro, who is on trial for gang sexual violence, and to attack Giulia Bongiorno, the lawyer of the girl who accuses him: “He is Lawyer, President of The Commission Judge is a Senator from the League who makes speeches in court. Where there’s a case behind closed doors… That’s inappropriate. Then everything gets mixed up.
“I founded the M5S, but was a member of the Democratic Party”
“I cannot lead a political movement and bring it to a successful conclusion, I am not capable of it,” Grillo continued. But Casaleggio was there, he was an organizer and had a method, I also do damage alone when I’m at home. I founded the movement but joined the Democratic Party in Arzachena – he joked –. I’m totally confused so I backed off and look what happens, my anger is a good anger, I still have it. I am good within and good anger is necessary for the soul.”
“Perfect count for politics, Giggino (Di Maio) was the best prepared but he stabbed us.”
“Conte was not a member of the movement, he is a good-looking man, a graduate, he speaks English, then he spoke and it was little understood… perfect for politics… but he has improved. Conte came from university, he was a lawyer and a writer. As you can see, he puts a bit of heart and soul into the matter.” Grillo does not spare either the current leader of the movement or Luigi Di Maio: “Giggino, the folder, I’m talking about Di Maio, he was the best prepared politician, but we thought not that he would come into power.” Organize people. He and I chose it, Conte. I looked at the programs, the ideas, whether right or left, whether an idea is good. But then he stabbed us… » “We were an evangelical movement, we were born on October 4th, St. Francis Day.”
“In Genoa I lived in a building where a merchant, a butcher, a bartender and a serial killer, Donato Bilancia, lived. Oh yes, my mother was a friend of Donato Bilancia’s mother, who committed 17 murders. There were no cell phones back then and my mother told me, ‘If you come back late, let Donato accompany you, otherwise I won’t keep calm,'” Grillo said.