Yellow vest: French riots hand Italy new ammo in EU budget tussle

Conte will argue that his government is the only defense against unrest and social revolt taking place across Europe

Italy’s populist government is warning its European partners that the country’s social stability could be at risk if Brussels pushes back too hard against its 2019 budget proposal, invoking the Yellow Vest protests in France. As the coalition begins discussions on a cost analysis of its 2019 budget plan, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is seeking leverage for talks this week with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Concerns across the continent over the growing grass-roots movement in neighboring France may just give him the ammunition he needs. 

"The pictures we see from Paris are the ones we don't want to