The anti-establishment Five Star Movement has emerged as the big winner in Italian elections, but now it faces very tough choices that will probably involve working together with the establishment.

The election could hardly have gone better for the maverick party, founded nine years ago by comedian Beppe Grillo. It identifies with neither left nor right, and draws disgruntled voters from across the political spectrum.

Not only did a powerful, four-party center-right coalition fall well short of a parliamentary majority, but Five Star emerged as the largest single party by some 13 points — meaning it will be very hard, if not impossible, to keep it out of government.