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Speaking on Italian channel La7, the die-hard eurosceptic argued those branded as "populists" and "nationalists" will bring European true values back to life at the next European elections. Italy's Interior Minister claimed others like him in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland dream of a European Union run differently from that of the likes of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Mr Salvini said: “Those who are branded eurosceptic, nationalist, populist and selfish, will be the saviours of Europe. “Those who will re-give life to the values that are now lost as Brussels takes care of big lobbies, multinationals and finance.

“They lost touch with the right to life, the right to health, the right to have a family, the right to education. “In France, Belgium, Germany and Holland, there are people who dream of a Europe different from the one Merkel wants.” The European election is already being billed as a major battle between centrist-leaning, pro-EU parties and far-right, populist groups that want to stop mass immigration. On Monday, Mr Salvini accused French president Emmanuel Macron of trying to manipulate public opinion ahead of next May’s European Parliament election by depicting him as a “bogeyman”.

Italy news: Matteo Salvini warns eurosceptics will save Europe from Merkel's direction

Those who are branded eurosceptic, nationalist, populist and selfish, will be the saviours of Europe Matteo Salvini

“Macron and his friends must be very afraid… Because in 2019, the People’s Spring will sweep them aside,” Mr Salvini tweeted shortly after the French government published a campaign video warning voters against the likes of the Italian conservative and his Hungarian ally Viktor Orban. “The French government has released – using taxpayers’ money – an official campaign video for the European elections in which they have depicted me as a bogeyman,” he continued. The video clip, which was published on the French government’s official Twitter account on October 26, urges the French to vote for “unity” in the crunch May vote, and reject politics of “division”.