Italian minister meets "yellow vests" and could spark diplomatic scandal with France

A diplomatic crisis between Italy and France erupted as a result of the Italian government's open support for the "Yellow Vests" movement, which mobilized against the president Emmanuel Macronand Paris called for consultations with his ambbadador in Rome.

"France has been, for several months, the object of Repeated charges, unfounded attacks, outrageous statements that everyone knows and can keep in mind, "said spokeswoman of the French Foreign Ministry Agnes von der Mühll in a statement.

"This is unprecedented since the end of the war … The latest interference is an additional and unacceptable provocation," he added.

Tuesday's meeting of Luigi Di Maio, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Five-Star Movement (M5E), with members of the "yellow vests" was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Di Maio announced Tuesday on social media that he had met members of this anti-government collective. "The wind of change has crossed the Alps," concluded the Italian after the appointment.

"This new provocation is unacceptable between neighboring countries and partners within the European Union (EU), "said a spokesman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the beginning of January, Di Maio had already supported the "yellow vests". "Do not abandon!", I told them in the blog of the M5S, anti-system movement born in 2009 in the rejection of the political clbad by the Italians.

"Having disagreements is one thing, but using the relationship for electoral purposes is another," said the French Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

Italy's Interior Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini is trying to organize a far-right European front against pro-Europeans, including Macron, ahead of the 26th European elections. may.

"The campaign for the European elections can not justify a lack of respect," said Agnes von der Mühll.

"All these acts create a serious situation that calls into question the intentions of the Italian government regarding its relations with France," he added.

"We do not want to fight with anyone," Salvini said in a statement on Thursday. "We are not interested in controversies: we are serious people and we defend Italian interests," he wrote.

He called on both countries to find a solution to their problems, including French border controls at the Italian border and Rome's extradition requests for Italian leftist militants living in France.

Di Maio and he said they were "available" to talk to the French government.

The war of words between the two European capitals began shortly after the 5-star Movement and the far-right parties of the League won the Italian elections and formed a coalition government last March.

Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, expects to see emerge a government that would support its plans for reform of the European Union. But in their place, they won the Eurosceptics, the antisystem of the 5-star movement and the right-wing extremists of the League.

In June 2018 Macron criticized the "cynicism and irresponsibility" of the new Italian government After refusing to allow rescue boats with migrants on board to dock in Italian ports, he compared the rise of far-right nationalism to "leprosy".

While Salvini recently declared that he was expecting the French to be released very soon from Macron, which he termed "lousy president".