Macron seeks reconciliation with Italy

French President Emmanuel Macron held out the olive branch with Italy following a diplomatic spat that saw Paris briefly recall its ambassador.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Macron said he would host Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Amboise, central France, on May 2 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci .

The two presidents intend to go “beyond the misunderstandings that can sometimes arise in political or economic life and which are, for me, secondary,” Macron said, without mentioning Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte or other Italian leaders.

Relations between the two countries become frosty due to repeated clashes between centrist Macron and Italy’s populist coalition government.

The spat reached boling point in February after Italian populist leaders’ supported the “yellow vest” protestors in France. As a consequence Paris recalled ambassador Christian Masset for a week in protest at “unfounded attacks and outlandish claims” by the Italian government.

Via France 24