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Salvini has been "saved" by Rousseau, M5S's online voting platform.
On Monday, ~59% of voting M5S members opted to shield him from an investigation over the alleged kidnapping of migrants held aboard the Diciotti, a naval vessel, in August, when Mr Salvini refused to allow them to come ashore.
This outcome was fairly predictable, as we have seen much of the same from Podemos in Spain when decisions have been put to online consultations. The will of the "base" is typically directed with ease by populist leaders like Di Maio or Iglesias.
"...web democracy has gradually become an instrument for legitimising the hard choices that have to be made by M5S leaders – particularly when they are about to contradict some of the founding principles of the movement."
"This time, the vote was used to challenge the movement’s core idea that politicians should not be shielded from judicial scrutiny."
"Many members, including M5S leader Beppe Grillo, complained that the question asked in the online poll was ambiguous. The voting process was also marred by technical problems and the poll was closed more than an hour later than planned."
