France said it was recalling its ambassador from Rome to protest against “interference” in its domestic politics, after Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s deputy prime minister, met a group of gilets jaunes activists near Paris.

“These latest acts of interference are an additional and unacceptable provocation,” France’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday. “For several months, France has been the subject of repeated accusations, unfounded attacks and outrageous announcements?.?.?.?This is without precedent since the end of the war.”

Mr Di Maio, head of the populist Five Star movement, met demonstrators who plan to contest the European elections in May at a hotel in Montargis, south of Paris, on Tuesday. “The wind of change has crossed the Alps,” Mr Di Maio said.