(ANSA) - Rome, February 7 - France has recalled its ambassador to Rome, Christian Masset, for consultations. The French foreign ministry said the move was related to "groundless attacks by Italy without precedent since the end of the war" and "outrageous statements" by the Italian government. "Disagreeing is one thing, exploiting relations for electoral ends is another," the ministry added.
Tension between Rome and Paris has been high in recent months over several issues, including the treatment of asylum seekers and the TAV Turin-Lyon high-speed rail link, but the tipping point has been the support of Italian Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio's 5-Star Movement (M5S) for the Yellow Vests protestors in France, whose extremist wing he met in Paris on Tuesday.
Di Maio said Thursday his meeting Tuesday with members of the French Yellow Vests protest movement in
Paris was "fully legitimate".
"And I claim the right to dialogue with other political forces that represent the French people", he said.
"Just like En Marche, the French government party, is allied with the (Democratic Party), an opposition party in Italy, so
the M5S meets a political force of opposition to the French government (RIC)".
He added, after France recalled its ambassador, "the French people is our friend and ally. President Macron has on several
occasions attacked the Italian government for political reasons in view of the European elections.
"This has not affected the feeling of friendship that ties our two countries, and never will".
On issues such as immigration, he added, "dialogue and collaboration with the French government is always maximum and
we are willing to have meetings at the highest level with the French government in order to find solutions".