The Italian government asks France to apologize for the claims against Rome over the handling of the Aquarius case, but Paris refuses. Would it be a way to help true democrats to agree with those who seek provocation, who see a ship approaching the coast and reject it? – said the French president, Emmanuel Macron – We cannot give in to the worst politics in which we will all be in the grip of emotion, thus proving right those who want to lead us down the darkest roads. Let's not forget who asked us, we know them well. The real answer lies in the development, security and dismantling networks of traffickers".
Then the number one of the Elysée makes a clear distinction between the current Italian government and the previous one: “We have been working in an exemplary way for a year, we have reduced landings to a tenth thanks to work with Libya, in the Sahel. Then something changed."
The reply from the Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, arrived shortly after: "Macron hysterically continues his war on the Italian people who have little to learn in terms of generosity".
At this point we arrive at the level of diplomatic confrontation. The Minister of Economy, Giovanni Tria, canceled his meeting with his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire, who expressed "regret" and hoped it could be held soon (the issue of European governance was on the table) .
And the visit to France by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, expected on Friday in Paris by Macron, will also probably be cancelled. “France apologizes or Conte doesn't go”, thundered Salvini from the Senate hall. “At the moment there are no conditions” for the trip, confirmed Conte.
A position that was also supported by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, with whom yesterday Conte, on the sidelines of an informal meeting during which the premier anticipated the names of the undersecretaries, also briefly discussed the clash with Paris.
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During the night, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Italian premier, Giuseppe Conte, had a telephone conversation that the French minister of European affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, defines as "cordial".
The phone call did not mention the Italian premier's visit to Paris scheduled for Friday, "but we hope it will come - added the minister - the president and Giuseppe Conte met briefly at the G7 in Canada, it would be interesting and useful if see longer. Europe must do more and better to help Italy. We need to talk to Italy, it's a great partner, a great neighbor”.
