France recalled its ambassador to Italy on Thursday, a remarkable
diplomatic split between neighbours and European Union allies, after
“repeated, baseless” attacks on France by Italian political leaders.
diplomatic split between neighbours and European Union allies, after
“repeated, baseless” attacks on France by Italian political leaders.
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| President Macron |
The rupture, the first withdrawal of a French envoy to Rome since World War Two, was announced by the foreign ministry.
Diplomats said Paris acted after a series of insults from Italy,
capped by Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio’s decision this week to
meet with members of France’s “yellow vest” movement, which has mounted a
month-long and sometimes violent campaign against Macron.
capped by Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio’s decision this week to
meet with members of France’s “yellow vest” movement, which has mounted a
month-long and sometimes violent campaign against Macron.
“France has been, for several months, the target of repeated,
baseless attacks and outrageous statements,” the foreign ministry said
in a statement. “Having disagreements is one thing, but manipulating the
relationship for electoral aims is another.”
baseless attacks and outrageous statements,” the foreign ministry said
in a statement. “Having disagreements is one thing, but manipulating the
relationship for electoral aims is another.”
Di Maio, head of the anti-establishment 5-Star movement, which is in a
governing coalition with the far-right League, defended his meeting
with the “yellow vests”, and drew a distinction between Macron and the
French people.
governing coalition with the far-right League, defended his meeting
with the “yellow vests”, and drew a distinction between Macron and the
French people.
“The French people are our friends and our ally,” he said. “President
Macron has repeatedly lashed out against the Italian government for
political reasons in view of the European elections,” he said, referring
to a European Parliament vote in May that is expected to see a surge
among populist parties.
Macron has repeatedly lashed out against the Italian government for
political reasons in view of the European elections,” he said, referring
to a European Parliament vote in May that is expected to see a surge
among populist parties.
“My meeting as the political leader of the 5-Star movement with
members of the ‘yellow vests’… was fully legitimate. I claim the right
to talk with other political forces that represent the French people.”
members of the ‘yellow vests’… was fully legitimate. I claim the right
to talk with other political forces that represent the French people.”
The 32-year-old Di Maio appears keen to cast himself as a youthful
rival to Macron, 41, even as his approval rating falls at home.
rival to Macron, 41, even as his approval rating falls at home.
Macron offered no immediate response to Di Maio.
He has spent much of the past month touring France in a “great
debate” with citizens to try to lift his own approval ratings and regain
the initiative in the face of the protests. While Thursday’s diplomatic
action was going on, he was attending one such townhall meeting in the
small eastern town of Etang-sur-Arroux.
debate” with citizens to try to lift his own approval ratings and regain
the initiative in the face of the protests. While Thursday’s diplomatic
action was going on, he was attending one such townhall meeting in the
small eastern town of Etang-sur-Arroux.
France’s Europe minister, Nathalie Loiseau, said the decision to recall the ambassador was rare but necessary.
“There was behaviour by a member of the Italian government that we
consider unusual, unfriendly and that follows a number of official
Italian statements that we find hard to understand in terms of how they
help Franco-Italian relations,” she told France Info.
consider unusual, unfriendly and that follows a number of official
Italian statements that we find hard to understand in terms of how they
help Franco-Italian relations,” she told France Info.
Ties between the two traditionally close allies have grown
increasingly tense since mid-2018, with Di Maio and his fellow deputy
prime minister, Matteo Salvini of the League party, firing pot-shots at
Macron and France, mostly over migration policy.
increasingly tense since mid-2018, with Di Maio and his fellow deputy
prime minister, Matteo Salvini of the League party, firing pot-shots at
Macron and France, mostly over migration policy.
Macron has at times responded, criticizing Italy last June for its
refusal to accept a boatload of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean,
and taking aim at Rome’s public finances.
refusal to accept a boatload of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean,
and taking aim at Rome’s public finances.
But in recent weeks the exchanges have grown sharper and more
personal. Di Maio accused France last month of fuelling poverty in
Africa, suggesting it was a neo-colonial power.
personal. Di Maio accused France last month of fuelling poverty in
Africa, suggesting it was a neo-colonial power.
Salvini accused France of exploiting the unrest in Libya to benefit
oil company Total, which competes with Italy’s ENI in the development of
regional energy assets. He also said he hoped Macron’s party would lose
in May’s European elections.
oil company Total, which competes with Italy’s ENI in the development of
regional energy assets. He also said he hoped Macron’s party would lose
in May’s European elections.
During a visit to Egypt last month, Macron sought to shrug off the
sparring, calling Salvini and Di Maio’s comments “insignificant” and
adding that he dealt only with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
sparring, calling Salvini and Di Maio’s comments “insignificant” and
adding that he dealt only with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
Conte, a political unknown who became prime minister last year as a
compromise between Salvini and Di Maio, was caught on video at last
month’s World Economic Forum in Davos discussing the dispute with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel.
compromise between Salvini and Di Maio, was caught on video at last
month’s World Economic Forum in Davos discussing the dispute with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Italian TV channel La 7 broadcast footage a week ago showing the two
leaders talking at a bar, with Conte telling Merkel that Di Maio was
attacking France because he was down in the polls ahead of the European
elections and needed an enemy.
leaders talking at a bar, with Conte telling Merkel that Di Maio was
attacking France because he was down in the polls ahead of the European
elections and needed an enemy.
“So they say what are the issues that can help us during the
campaign… In the political campaign our friend is Germany and so we had
to do the campaign against France,” he said, prompting laughter from
Merkel.
campaign… In the political campaign our friend is Germany and so we had
to do the campaign against France,” he said, prompting laughter from
Merkel.
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