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Italy's 5-Star names youthful new leader as election nears

By Gavin Jones RIMINI, Italy (Reuters) - Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement which is riding high in opinion polls has named 31-year-old Luigi Di Maio to lead it into parliamentary elections early next year, which could see the maverick party win national power. Di Maio, deputy speaker of the chamber of deputies, is the party's most prominent and popular politician and had been groomed for the leadership in recent years by 5-Star's founder, the 69-year-old comedian Beppe Grillo. Boyish looking and usually immaculately turned out in suit and tie, Di Maio presents a moderate image in striking contrast to Grillo, who is famous for his raucous tirades against Italy's ruling elite. "You have given me an enormous responsibility ... I assure you I'll carry it out with discipline and honour," Di Maio told supporters on Saturday at the party's annual gathering in the Adriatic coastal town of Rimini. "I promise I will form a government team to be proud of for the first time in our history." Grillo, who has so far acted as 5-Star's de facto chief, is now expected to gradually withdraw from the limelight. "I will always be like a dad for all of you but I am old," he told the gathering on Friday. Di Maio has taken tough stances on law-and-order and immigration and is widely seen on the right of the party which says traditional left-right labels have no meaning. He won by a huge margin over seven rivals in an online vote of 5-Star's members held on Thursday and Friday, reflecting the movement's credo of internet-based direct democracy. His election was considered a formality because the other candidates were all little-known figures, mostly local councillors. Di Maio won 83 percent of the vote. The only people seen as having any chance against him decided not to run, opening the party up to accusations of failing to run a proper contest. Di Maio will now try to put that criticism behind him as he gears up for a crucial period ahead of elections due by May next year. NARROW LEAD 5-Star has a narrow lead in most opinion polls, which give it around 28 percent of the vote, just ahead of the ruling Democratic Party. However, that would not be enough to give it a majority in parliament unless it allies itself with another party, something it has so far always refused to do. The right-wing Northern League and Silvio Berlusconi's conservative Forza Italia (Go Italy!) each have around 14 to 15 percent. 5-Star, founded by Grillo as a protest movement nine years ago, bases its appeal mainly on a campaign against corruption and vested interests in Italy. Its policies include the introduction of universal income support for the poor, green energy and increasing the budget deficit to fund investments in infrastructure. Di Maio will need to broaden the movement's appeal and soothe barely disguised resentment among some 5-Star lawmakers over his predominant role in the party, culminating in his overwhelming election as leader. His first challenge will be a crucial vote in Sicily in November which offers 5-Star the chance to win control of its first ever region. Victory could be a springboard to national success while defeat would be a major setback after the party spent months campaigning intensely on the island. (editing by Silvia Aloisi and Greg Mahlich)