The dispute between France and Italy is at its peak

Relations between France and the populist government in Italy have reached an unusual level from the two founding countries of the European Union. France recalled its ambassador to Italy for consultations after the worst verbal exchange since World War II.

France recalled on Thursday (February 7, 2019) its ambassador from Italy after what Paris described as repeated unfounded attacks by Italian political leaders in the past months, especially from the poles of the populist government: the five-star movement and the extreme party. Paris urged Rome at the same time to return to a "more friendly attitude."

"France has been subjected for several months to repeated accusations, baseless attacks and exaggerated statements that everyone knows," the foreign ministry spokeswoman said in a statement. "This is unprecedented since the end of the (second world) war." Recent interventions are an additional and unacceptable provocation, "she said.

Paris's discontent peaked when Italian Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the populist five-star movement Luigi de Mayo met on Tuesday with figures from the Yellow Jackets movement, which has been leading protests against President Emmanuel Macaron for weeks. "The winds of change have crossed the Alps," he said, adding that "the winds of change surpassed the Alps."

The meeting followed a series of unprecedented statements by both de Maio and his ally, Interior Minister Matteo Salveni, against the French government, most notably De Mayo's indictment of Paris for the impoverishment of Africa. Salveni, who leads the far-right "right-wing" movement, said he hoped "the French people would soon be liberated from a very bad president," referring to President Macaron, unprecedented statements by officials of the two founding nations of the European Union.

Salveni is trying to rally a European front to the far right that faces supporters of the European Union, first and foremost the French president, in the next European elections on 26 May.

However, the French spokeswoman said that "the European election campaign can not justify the reduction of respect for any people or democracy." She stressed that "all these actions generate a serious situation raises questions about the intentions of the Italian government in its relationship with France."