France Recalls Rome Ambassador after Worst Verbal Onslaught 'Since the War'

THE GUARDIAN: Move comes after Italian deputy prime minister met with leaders of the anti-Macron gilets jaunes movement

Paris has taken the extraordinary step of recalling its ambassador from Rome in the worst crisis between neighbouring France and Italy since the second world war.

France blamed what it called called baseless and repeated verbal attacks from Italy’s political leaders which it said were “without precedent since world war two.”

In a statement, the French foreign office said: “For several months, France has been the target of repeated, baseless attacks and outrageous statements.”

It added: “Having disagreements is one thing but manipulating the relationship for electoral aims is another.”

Italy’s two deputy prime ministers, Matteo Salvini of the far right League and Luigi Di Maio of the populist, anti-establishment Five Star Movement, have criticised the centrist French president, Emmanuel Macron, on a host of inflammatory issues, from immigration to the gilets jaunes (yellow vest) anti-government demonstrations in France. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Thursday, February 7, 2019

How a Rising Populist Party Could Shake Up Italian Politics (February 2018)

Italy may be the next Western democracy to witness a populist uprising, spurred by a young political party called the Five Star Movement. Ahead of elections in early March, the party's candidate for prime minister, Luigi Di Maio, is championing tax cuts and anti-immigrant rhetoric while vowing to clean up Italy's bureaucracy. NewsHour Weekend Special Correspondent Christopher Livesay reports.

Could the Rise of the Five Star Movement Make Luigi di Maio Italy's Youngest PM?

He is considered the shining star of a grass roots movement called 5 star that has shaken up the Italian political landscape. Luigi di Maio, 31, in just five years has gone from unemployed university dropout to the front-runner candidate for Prime Minister. The anti-establishment movement he leads is now Italy’s most popular party. His rise to power was as meteoric as that of the Five Star Movement.

Luigi Di Maio - Harvard University, Boston (May 8, 2017)