Paris ridicules Italian ‘nationalist leprosy’

FRANCE yesterday added fuel to its worst diplomatic row with Italy since the war by deriding the populist coalition as being part of a “nationalist leprosy” sapping the European Union.

France recalled its ambassador to Italy for the first time since 1940 on Thursday after what it called months of “unfounded attacks” from Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, the Italian government members.

They have criticised the economic and migration policies of Emmanuel Macron, with Mr Salvini calling him a “terrible president”.

Referring to the ambassadorial withdrawal, Benjamin Griveaux, the French government spokesman, said: “It’s not a permanent recall, but it was important to make a statement because Italy is a historic ally and is also a founding member of the European Union.”

While the row had been brewing for months, Paris removed the gloves this week after Mr Di Maio, head of the Five Star movement, held a surprise meeting with the leaders of “yellow vest” protesters in France. “The most basic courtesy would have been to notify the government,” said Mr Griveaux.

Nathalie Loiseau, France’s Europe affairs minister, said the decision to recall France’s ambassador “isn’t about being dramatic. It’s about saying ‘playtime is over’”.

Mr Griveaux dismissed suggestions that France had sparked the spat because or Mr Macron’s previous criticisms of Mr Di Maio and Mr Salvini, the far-right leader. “If they felt targeted, that’s their problem,” he said, adding that their “snide remarks” had not stopped Italy falling into recession.