France recalls Italy envoy amid war of words over yellow vests

Paris, February 8: France recalled its ambassador to Rome on Thursday in a move unprecedented since World War II saying it was fed up with "repeated, baseless" attacks by Italian political leaders on the country.

 

The move came amid mounting tensions between the two European Union members after Italy's deputy Prime Minister met French yellow vest protesters. France's foreign ministry recalled its ambassador to Rome for consultations after a series of comments from Italy's two deputy prime ministers, Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini.

Di Maio and Salvini, who formed a populist coalition government together last year, have repeatedly criticised French President Emmanuel Macron, who has, in turn, targeted their "eurosceptic actions" before high-stakes European Parliament elections in May.

The latest spat erupted on Tuesday after Di Maio, head of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, revealed he had met "yellow vest" anti-government protesters outside Paris.

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