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Emmanuel Macron and Matteo Salvini (photomontage), two visions of Europe. REUTERS / Montaje RFI

Luigi Di Maio, Italian deputy prime minister and political leader of the 5-star Movement and the vice-president of the Council and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, head of the League, multiply their vitriolic attacks against the French government and Emmanuel Macron. After Di Maio's comments accusing " colonialist France of aggravating the migration crisis ", Matteo Salvini has hit the nail. He has posted on his Facebook page a call to the French to get rid of a " very bad president. "

Matteo Salvini did not content himself with declaring that Emmanuel Macron " gives lessons of solidarity, but represses thousands of migrants as well in Ventimiglia as in the region of Piedmont ". He added a good ladle on his Facebook page. Notably by launching a " call to the French " so that they " free themselves during the next European elections of a very bad President of the Republic ".

Between him and his five-star government ally, Luigi Di Maio, who accused France of impoverishing Africa, Council President Giuseppe Conte is trying to calm things down.

In a statement, he said that the " historic " friendship between Italy and France is not in question and that " the relations between the two countries remain solid, despite the political quarrels ". It is hard to believe that his diplomatic efforts will be enough to put an end to the controversy, especially on the migratory issue exploited thoroughly by the head of the League to continue to climb the polls.

► Macron and Merkel against Salvini

In 6 months everything has changed. The relationship between Rome and Paris has been tense since the League came into power almost five years ago.

The crisis of "yellow vests" has largely tarnished the image of the French president. The German Chancellor has lost her political leadership since the fall, since she announced she would no longer be a candidate for Chancery. So two weakened leaders who celebrated this Tuesday the Franco-German friendship in Aachen.

So when the Italian Minister of the Interior every day carried by a greater popularity declares hoping that the French " get rid of a very bad president ", Emmanuel Macron assumes to remain with the images and the symbol, that of a Franco-German friendship pillar of Europe.

" Europeans ," says one at the Elysee, " this project will really confront those who seek a destruction of the European project and the Franco-German couple, we still see today with the aberrant statements of the Italian government. "

Emmanuel Macron still believes in this cleavage between progressives and nationalists. He wants to continue to try to impose it, and too bad if he can not carry it so high in Europe.