(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 9 - A series of changes to the statute of the 5-Star Movement (M5S) wanted by its current leader, ex-premier Giuseppe Conte, were approved again on Sunday in a second vote of the group's members.
    A second vote was called after objections to how the first ballot was held at a 'constituent assembly' last month were raised by M5S founder Beppe Grillo, who opposes the changes.
    Grillo is being stripped of his role as the populist party's 'guarantor' under the reform of the statute.
    The changes also scrap the movement's two-term limit for its elected representatives, make it possible to change its symbol, and place it firmly in the progressive camp.
    "The M5S has voted again en masse," said Conte.
    "This is the disruptive wave of a community that knows no limits or obstacles, in which everyone really counts.
    "Now we turn a page".
    Comic-and-blogger-cum-politician Grillo has said the M5S is "very dead" (stramorto) after the changes to its statute and has hinted that he will start a new group.
    Former transport minister Danilo Toninelli said Monday that Grillo will not give up the fight.
    "Conte held a ratification ballot," said Toninelli, a member of the M5S's board of arbitrators.
    "He had already decided everything: he decided how many voters there should be, he decided the questions and who was the notary.
    "Beppe won't give up.
    It's unfortunate that Conte and his guys are trying to dance on the corpse of a lion.
    "Beppe will definitely keep going.
    "He'll take legal action over the (M5S) symbol and make it his own.
    "Conte will have to form his own party.
    "The M5s will no longer exist in a few months, Beppe will take the legal action that everyone is waiting for".
    Grillo, 76, founded the movement as an "Up Yours" to the establishment in 2009.
    Designed to prevent M5S representatives becoming part of the political 'caste', the two-term limit was one of the key principles of the anti-establishment movement.
    But Conte said it needed to change for the M5S to take advantage of the experience its representatives have accrued and help reverse a recent drop in popularity.
    Speaking on Facebook on Monday afternoon, Conte said the party is everyone's home and also needs those who have different opinions.
    The ex-premier said "our community is the home of all members.
    "There isn't only place here for those who saw their proposals voted", Conte noted.
    "It is also the home of those who had a different proposal or who did not take part in the constituent process.
    "We need the contribution of those who think differently, we need everyone's contribution.
    "It is not the era of ousters or expulsions anymore, or of an owners' decision leading to mass axpulsions", Conte said.
    (ANSA).