Abstract

The 5-Star Movement's success in the 2013 Italian general elections is the outcome of multiple factors, including the Movement's electoral campaign, which saw in the Tsumani Tour its peak of visibility. The dual nature of the Tour (political promotion and show) allowed the Movement to recover the centrality of the "street" as a place of political discussion and participation. These dimensions had been becoming increasingly blurred over the years. Furthermore, the systematic exposition of Italy's corruption and anomalies allowed Grillo to tingle the emotions of a significant part of the constituency. Ultimately, the "bouncing effect" that has characterized the Tour enabled Grillo to enjoy a significant degree of visibility in the traditional media.