An ethics panel of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) on Monday expelled from the M5S Senators Gregorio De Falco and Saverio De Bonis for allegedly breaching the party line. The panel also ejected MEPs Marco Valli and Giulia Moi for the same reason.
For a third Senator, Lello Ciampolillo, the panel settled for a reprimand. M5S leader Luigi Di Maio, the deputy premier and industry ad labour minister, said "those who don't back the government contract are out".
De Falco, a vote catcher in the March 4 general election for his former role as hero of the Costa Concordia disaster, and the others have failed to toe the party line on a number of measures.
De Falco is a former Coast Guard commander who became a hero by ordering 'Captain Coward' Francesco Schettino to "get back on the ship, dammit" in the Costa Concordia disaster that claimed 32 lives in January 2012.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
