Deputy Premier and Interior
Minister Matteo Salvini said Tuesday that France had no reason
to be upset after Paris summoned the Italian ambassador over
comments made by fellow Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio about
French policy in Africa.
Labour and Industry Minister and 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader
Di Maio said France allegedly "impoverished" Africa with what he
called the "franc of the colonies", adding that "in order to
keep the Africans in Africa, it would be enough for the French
to stay home".
Salvini suggested he did not think this was unjustified.
"The migrant problem has many causes," League leader Salvini
told Mediaset television.
"In Africa some take away wealth from the people and the
continent and France is among them".
The minister added that, in Libya, France's "interests are
the opposite of Italy's" arguing that Paris has "no interest in
stabilizing the situation".
"(France) has little to get angry about because it has turned
back thousands of migrants, including women and children, at the
border," he continued.
"I don't take lessons on humanity and generosity from (French
President Emmanuel) Macron".
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