RSS Feeds  Beppe Grillo's protest group wins Italian hearts
Friday - 3/1/2013, 3:43pm  ET  FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2013 file
picture German politician Peer Steinbrueck speaks to the media
in Berlin, Germany. The German opposition leader's comment that
&quot;two clowns&quot; won Italy's election has led the Italian
president to cancel a meeting with him. Peer Steinbrueck is
Chancellor Angela Merkel's challenger for the top job in
Germany's September election. In discussing the Italian vote, he
said Tuesday Feb. 26, 2013 that he was &quot;appalled to a
certain point that two clowns won.&quot; That was an apparent
reference to comic-turned-politician Beppe Grillo, whose anti-
establishment 5 Star Movement performed strongly, and scandal-
scarred former Premier Silvio Berlusconi, whose center-right
coalition did better than expected. Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano is visiting Germany and was due to meet with
Steinbrueck, but Steinbrueck spokesman Michael Donnermeyer said
Napolitano called off the meeting bec