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Luigi Di Maio said he hoped the talks would pave the way to involving the anti-establishment protestors in his vision for a populist wave in the upcoming European Parliament elections. The deputy prime minister, who serves alongside Matteo Salvini, has praised the gilets jaunes, as they are known in France, for taking to the streets and demanding change. Their praise has been met with fury from the French government, with Nathalie Loiseau, France’s minister for European affairs, suggesting the pair focus on solving Italy’s problems first.

But despite the scolding, Mr Di Maio today said he would meet with yellow vest leader Eric Drouet, Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero reports. He insisted he was not dealing with any of the groups involved in violent protests which have prompted weeks of unrest on the streets of French cities. Speaking to Italian broadcaster Rai Radio 1, he said: “I am creating an alternative European parliamentary group to the right and the left and I am involving all those movements that believe in direct democracy. “I’m not talking to the violent groups though. “In the coming days I will meet various leaders of the yellow vests and Drouet is said to be available.”

Italian deputy PM Luigi Di Maio plans to meet with leaders from the yellow vest movement in France

Mr Di Maio is hoping to shake up the traditional make-up of the European Parliament

The yellow vests are protesting rising inequality and high living costs

The meeting will add to fuel the worsening row between Italy and France as the two governments continue to argue over issues including immigration and the future of the European Union. And Mr Di Maio, who heads up Italy’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement, this week again attacked Emmanuel Macron for his remarks on the populist coalition in Rome. Speaking shortly after the new Italian government took power, Mr Macron likened populist Eurosceptic movements to a disease which should be resisted by moderates. He did not refer to Italy by name, but did say populism had spread to “neighbouring countries” where “we thought that it would be impossible to see them again”.

Mr Di Maio said he would not meet with any activists who have been involved in violent protests