(Bloomberg) -- Italian Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio reiterated his support for France’s Yellow Vest protesters, as his anti-establishment Five Star Movement seeks foreign allies ahead of next May’s European Parliament elections.

“The French are demanding change and greater attention to their needs,” Di Maio, who leads the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, said in a Facebook post after siding with the protesters on Monday. “I share these desires, I don’t think there is anything offensive toward French citizens.”

Di Maio said that changes must include “no longer impoverishing Africa with colonialist policies, which cause migratory waves toward Europe and which Italy has often had to tackle on its own.” Di Maio’s coalition partner, the League, has long campaigned for curbs on immigration from north Africa.

Newspaper la Repubblica reported earlier Tuesday that Di Maio may meet leaders of the Yellow Vests in Rome on Saturday. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday said the government will take new measures to deter violence against police and damage to property after an eighth consecutive Saturday of Yellow Vest protests.

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