(ANSA) - Rome, May 14 - Deputy Premier and 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio has launched a stinging attack on his government alliance partner Matteo Salvini on Tuesday, accusing him of putting the interests of the political class over those of ordinary people. Di Maio and League leader Salvini, who is also deputy premier and interior minister, have clashed over a series of issues recently, including that of Armando Siri, a League member who was sacked as transport undersecretary following a corruption probe. Salvini had staunchly defended Siri, who denies any wrongdoing.

"In the first six months of government Salvini presented himself as a person interested in people's problems," Di Maio, who is also labour and industry minister, said in an interview with Mediaset television that will be screened later on Tuesday.

"Now I no longer recognise that in him. It's as if he'd taken of the sweatshirt (that Salvini often wears) and put on the good suit of the old-fashioned politician.

"In the Siri case he lined up in defence of the caste".

Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Tuesday that he thinks the 5-Star Movement (M5S), the alliance partners of his League party in the coalition government, may be moving too far to the left.

"I have kept my word with the Italian people and with the M5S for 11 months," Salvini said during a visit to Verona. "I start to note too many hook-ups between the (opposition, centre-left Democratic Party) PD and the M5s, too much agreement. "(They are saying) no to the flat tax, no to (regional) autonomy, no to the new security decree. "Maybe they want to reopen the ports (to NGO-run migrant-rescue ships) too.

"Someone should explain to me whether they want to agree with the PD or with the Italian people and the League, respecting the pact (of government)". Fellow Deputy Premier and M5S leader Luigi Di Maio said this analysis was off the mark.

"Has the M5S moved to the left? If the left is the PD, then God forbid," Di Maio told Mediaset television in an interview that will be screened later on Tuesday.

"No political leader has attacked the PD as much as me.

"The PD is still that of (ex-premier Matteo) Renzi... I don't want to have anything to do with it".