Credit: Wikipedia /  The French Republic is founded on principles of liberty, equality and fraternity

By Gary Raynaldo  DIPLOMATIC TIMES

France recalled its Ambassador in Rome for what it characterized as “repeated attacks, accusations” from Italy’s political leaders, the French Republic announced Thursday.

“For several months now, France has – as everyone knows or may be aware of – been the target of repeated accusations, baseless attacks and outrageous remarks. These attacks are unprecedented since the end of World War II. “

France Foreign Ministry statement, Feb. 7, 2019.

The statement from the French Republic went on to declare that: “Having disagreements is one thing; using the relationship for election purposes in another.” The statement acknowledged that France and Italy are united by a common history, having built Europe together and worked to achieve peace. However, the French Republic is drawing the line against Italy’s disrespect of the France amid the onslaught of verbal abuse by Italian politicians. France is making it clear it will not tolerate being a political punching bag by Italy during the European election campaign.

“In light of this unprecedented situation, the French government has decided to recall the ambassador of France to Italy for consultations.”

France Foreign Ministry 

The leaders of Italy’s ruling populist parties, the League’s Matteo Salvini and the 5Star Movement’s Luigi Di Maio, have targeted French President Emmanuel Macron on a range of issues from immigration to the gilets juanes (yellow vest) anti-government protests.  Just this week, Di Maio met leaders of the largely anti-Macron Yellow Jackets protest movement in Paris, and the two sides agreed to touch base again in Rome. In is no secret that some of the yellow vest protesters are also seeking to run in May’s European parliament elections.  Many see the Italian populist leaders as attempting to assist the yellow vest movement usurp the Macron government as they have used language as  the “wind of change has crossed the Alps” and a “new Europe is being born of the yellow vests.”  France said the comments were an unacceptable “provocation”.

France called on Italy  Thursday to restore the Franco-Italian  “relationship based on friendship and mutual respect that measures up to our history and our common destiny.”

It is really a shame that things have turned nasty between these two great European countries by the rising populism in Italy at the moment. Hopefully,  the French and Italian people will unite against the divisive populist forces creeping into Europe.