France remembers Italy's envoy in the middle of a war of words on yellow vests | France News



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France recalled its ambbadador in Rome on Thursday in a gesture unprecedented since the Second World War, saying he was tired of the "repeated and baseless" attacks of Italian political leaders against the country.

The decision was made in a context of increasing tensions between the two members of the European Union after the Italian Deputy Prime Minister met French demonstrators in yellow suits.

The French Foreign Ministry has recalled its ambbadador to Rome for consultations after a series of comments by the two Italian deputy prime ministers, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini.

"For several months, France has been the subject of repeated accusations, unfounded attacks and extravagant statements," the ministry said in a statement, calling the situation "unprecedented."

Di Maio and Salvini, who together formed a populist coalition government last year, have repeatedly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron, who in turn targeted their "eurosceptic actions" ahead of the elections to the European Parliament. will run at big stakes in May.

Di Maio, the leader of the anti-establishment Five-Star Movement, revealed that he had met anti-government protesters "yellow vest" in the Paris suburbs.

He said the goal was to prepare a common front for the European Parliament elections in May, while boasting on Twitter "the wind of change has crossed the Alps".

"The most recent interference is an additional and unacceptable provocation," said the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

& # 39; Terrible President & # 39;

Macron criticized the Italian government's "cynicism and irresponsibility" after preventing rescue boats carrying migrants and refugees from landing in Italian ports and comparing the rise of far-right nationalism to leprosy. .

The verbal battle has only intensified since Salvini called Macron "terrible president" last month in a video on Facebook.

"We do not want to argue with anyone," Salvini said in a statement Thursday. "We are not interested in controversies: we are serious people and we defend the interests of Italy."

He called on both countries to find a solution to the problems that created tensions, including French border controls at the Italian border and Rome's extradition requests for far-left Italian fighters living in France. .

Salvini and De Maio particularly displeased Macron by publicly supporting the yellow-jacket demonstrators who took to the streets to denounce the high cost of living and the perceived indifference of the government towards France. rural areas and small towns.

Last month, Paris summoned the Italian ambbadador to protest Di Maio's accusation that France was encouraging immigration to Europe because European countries, especially France , have never stopped colonizing dozens of African countries. "

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