French interior minister's migration comments spark diplomatic row with Italy

French interior minister's migration comments spark diplomatic row with Italy

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin's comments about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's handling of migration problems have caused a diplomatic conflict. Italy's Foreign Minister cancelled a scheduled trip to Paris following Darmanin's remarks, calling them "unacceptable".

Italy has seen a sharp rise in sea arrivals from Tunisia this year, and most of the 42,000 people arriving from North Africa have come from Tunisia, leading Italy to declare a state of emergency. The French Foreign Ministry has sought to defuse the tension by saying it wants to work with Italy on common challenges.

How have Italy's recent migration pressures affected the country and its government?