France returns its ambassador to Italy after spat led to re-call

FRANCE has sent its ambassador back to Italy following the biggest diplomatic dispute between the two countries since the World War II.

France re-called Christian Masset last week in protest against perceived Italian meddling in French domestic politics, after Italian deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio met French ‘yellow vest’ activists seeking to run for the European Parliament.

Italian president Sergio Mattarella welcomed the returning French ambassador at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.

Ambassador Masset gave him a letter from French president Emmanuel Macron inviting him to France.

In response to France’s decision, Mr Di Maio said he hopes to meet Mr Masset.

MrDiMaio heads the right-wing anti establishment 5- Star Movement, the senior party in the Italian coalition government.

He has been courting support from fellow populists elsewhere in the European Union with the aim of creating a like-minded faction in the European Parliament after elections this spring.