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The leader of the Italian right-wing party League, said he was aware eurocrats in Brussels were working to come up with a solution to the Brexit budget shortfall by trying to impose a new European tax. Mr Salvini claimed he would never allow the EU to impose new taxes on member states should he be given the opportunity to form Italy’s next government following the March 4 Italian election results. Speaking at a foreign press conference in Rome, he said: “With Brexit, the EU will lose a contribution of between 50 and 80 million net euros from the United Kingdom in the next seven years.

GETTY•MATTEO SALVINI Italian election winner vows to refuse to make up for EU budget shortfall caused by Brexit

“Someone in Brussels is thinking of turning this deficit into new taxes to impose on member states. Madness. The eurosceptic leader took a swipe at former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, who ran Italy between 2011 and 2013 after being appointed by the President of the Republic to lead a government od technocrats in the wake of the Italian debt crisis. Mr Salvini said: “The mere fact that Mario Monti is helping the Commission trying to come up with a new European tax gives us the outright opportunity to say that with my government there will never be a European tax. “It’s not up to the EU to impose new taxes.”

Someone in Brussels is thinking of turning this deficit into new taxes to impose on member states. Madness Matteo Salvini

The budget shortfall caused by Brexit is set to deepen cracks in the EU, particularly between the position of the European Commission and some central and eastern European countries. Last month, Guntram Wolff, Director of Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, warned the EU is in the middle of a “toxic debate” over who will have to cover the budget shortfall created by Brexit. Speaking to BBC News, Mr Wolff said that as the EU will try to impose new economic contributions on eastern and central European countries, these nations will start to fight back “very heavily”.

Italian election: Matteo Salvini tipped for success Sun, March 4, 2018 Lega's Matteo Salvini is regarded by many as Italy's answer to Donald Trump Play slideshow LightRocket via Getty Images 1 of 9 Salvini has vowed to defend Italy in Brussels and not grovel to the EU