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France has summoned the Italian diplomatic representative in Paris, Emanuela D’Alessandro, “following the unacceptable comments” made by the Italian vice-premier and Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini, against Emmanuel Macron for his support for sending soldiers to Ukraine.
The French Foreign Ministry’s summons, reported by the news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) and public broadcaster France Inter, came just hours after statements made by the League leader on Thursday.
At a meeting on Thursday, according to the French media, the Italian ambassador was told by the government in Paris that “these comments are contrary to the climate of trust and historical relations between the two countries, as well as recent bilateral developments that have shown strong convergences, particularly regarding their unwavering support for Ukraine”.
What Salvini said about Macron on Ukraine
The Italian vice-premier had urged the French president in Milanese dialect to “taches al tram”, to “stick to the tram”, a colourful externality to say that he would have been better off going to Ukraine instead of the Italian soldiers.
“You put on your helmet, your vest, your rifle and go to Ukraine,” Salvini had elaborated, referring to Macron, during a public engagement in the city of Milan.
The Italian minister also once again expressed his support for the policy on Ukraine of the United States and its president, Donald Trump.
“With his ways, which at times may seem brusque or irritable, he is succeeding where all have failed”, Salvini said, calling the attempts of “European armies, European rearmaments, European joint debts to buy missiles”, “macronate” – in a clearly derogatory way.
The precedents between Salvini and Macron
The two leaders have often been at loggerheads at a distance in recent years, as Salvini has held ministerial posts since 2018 and Macron has been president since 2017.
Macron has already been described by the Italian leader, who has placed himself at the helm of the country’s most nationalist wing, as a “warmonger”, “bombast”, “hypocrite”, “chatterbox” and a “polite gentleman who exceeds in champagne”.
In March, Salvini had this to say about the Elysée chief’s championing a common European defence: “there will never be a European army commanded by that madman Macron who talks about nuclear war”.
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