After the tensions between Italy and France, which prompted Paris to withdraw its ambassador from Rome, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini seeks milder tones. Next week he plans to meet with his French counterpart Christophe Castaner in Rome, announced the Deputy Prime Minister and head of the right-wing Lega today.
Among other things, he wanted to demand the extradition of 15 former left-wing extremists to Italy, who have been living in France for years. According to media reports, 33 former Italian terrorists are on the run overseas, including 15 ex-members of the left-wing extremist terrorist organization Red Brigades (Brigate Rosse), which is responsible for countless murders and attacks in the 1970s and 1980s. Most of them are supposed to be in France.
Meeting was not announced
Paris had recalled its ambassador from Italy for talks the day before. Italy’s recent interference is an „unacceptable provocation,“ the French Foreign Ministry said in support. „They violate the respect that democratically and freely elected governments owe each other.“
The scandal was probably also a meeting of the Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio have contributed with French „yellow vests“ activists who demonstrate for months against France’s President Emmanuel Macron. The French government spokesman Benjamin Grivaux made clear on the radio station Europe 1 that Paris had not been informed about the visit of the Italian deputy leader Luigi Di Maio.
