France has recalled its ambassador to Italy saying relations with Rome were at their lowest point "since the end of the Second World War” after Italy's deputy prime minister met with "yellow vest" protesters.

"For several months France has been the subject of repeated accusations, unfounded attacks and outlandish claims," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that its ambassador had returned home for “consultations”.

This was by far the most caustic flare-up between Paris and Rome since Italy’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement and far-right League party came to power in a coalition government in June.

The Italian coalition partners had been baiting the Macron administration for months following his blunt call to fight populist movements among EU members, which he likened to “leprosy”.

At first, France kept a certain hauteur, dismissing the sniping as domestic politicking and saying it would not lower itself to fight in a “stupidity contest”.

But the Gallic gloves finally came off after Italy's deputy prime minister and Five Star chief Luigi Di Maio met with "yellow vest" anti-government protesters outside Paris on Tuesday.

France has been in the throes of a "gilet jaune" revolt since mid-November. What started out as a grassroots movement against fuel tax hikes in provincial France snowballed into a wider backlash against the perceived injustice of Mr Macron's policies and persona and the top-down presidential system he represents.