The 5 Star Movement local government in Bagheria

Since2014Bagheria(Palermo)hasbeengovernedbythemayorPatrizioCinqueof5StarMovement (M5s). The case study of Bagheria shows how this local government works,focusingonthemovementinstitutionalizationandonthemainproblemsfacedputtinginpractice within a representative institution the M5S idea of political reform. Analyzingfirst the local context, the paper reconstructs the Cosa Nostra infiltrations in pastadministrations (Bagheria’s town council was being dissolved because it had beeninfiltrated by organised crime) and their current effects. Then starting from electoralcampaign it illustrates communication strategy and the frames used by the two maincandidates.Furthermore,thearticledealswiththebeginningoftheM5sadministrationofamunicipalitywithseriousfinancialdifficultiesandanunbalancedbudget:akey-pointisrepresented by the turnin the solid urban wastemanagement. Firstly, themassmediaemphasizetheyoungageandthebraveryofthemayor,atalatertimetheyprogressivelyfocus on “scandals” of Cinque’s administration with a growing attention of themainstreammedia.ThepaperexamineshowischangedtheactivistbecomingmayorandwhicharethemainelementsofdiscontinuityinBagherialocalgovernment,thechangesandtheconflictsexperienced.