France Pulls the Plug on Its Italian Ambassador
Paris has decided to pull its ambassador out of Rome, a rare but dramatic move that signals a serious rift between two fervent EU allies. The French foreign ministry said the decision was forced by a soup of “repeated, baseless” attacks from Italian politicians that crossed the line from friendly rivalry into outright harassment.
What Got Under the Skin?
- Luigi di Maio’s showdown with the Yellow Vests: The deputy prime minister, the outspoken leader of the 5‑Star movement, met members of France’s notorious “Yellow Vest” protestors. That meeting—fueled by months of intense opposition to President Macron—has been used as a political tool by Italians, rather than a genuine bridge of friendship.
- The rhetoric war: Over the past few months, Italian officials launched a steady volley of insults at France. Di Maio, for instance, accused the country of “fuelling poverty in Africa” and called it a neo‑colonial grabber. The League’s Matteo Salvini—who’s also in cooling the wars—blasted France for exploiting Libya’s turmoil to benefit Italy’s oil rival, Total.
- Political motives in a European elections race: Critics say the attacks are all part of a campaign playbook aimed at weakening the incumbent party for the upcoming European Parliament elections in May. The rhetoric is less about policy and more about point‑scoring.
France’s Official Response
French officials admit that political disagreements are expected, but what’s been happening in Rome is “unusual” and “unfriendly.” In a statement, the foreign ministry made it clear that using bilateral ties in this fashion is nothing short of manipulation for electoral gain.
Meanwhile, Macron’s entourage—tired from a whirlwind of town‑hall meetings across France—was focused on a “great debate” with citizens, trying to shake off a low approval rating.
Type of Actions to Be Took
France’s European affairs minister, Nathalie Loiseau, said the recall is a rare but necessary step. The French government wants a clear deal with Italy, especially on:
- migrant returns and border checks that hamper free movement,
- the case of Italian leftists who’ve been living in France for decades,
- minimizing politicized offenses that jeopardize diplomatic cordiality.
What That Means for EU Diplomacy
This is not the first time an EU member has recalled an ambassador. Greece pulled one in 2016; Hungary did so in 2017. But France withdrawing its envoy after a year’s worth of insults is a bold signal that Belgium pins the friendly faceover a forehand in diplomatic tennis.
With the European Elections on the horizon, this dashing of diplomatic optics may have ripple effects—especially for the fragile alliances that keep the EU from falling apart into a battlefield of one‑man promos and political feuds.
