(ANSA) - Cagliari, January 16 - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's Tuesday admission that EU-mandated austerity policies had been "rash" during a recession comes "better late than never", deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Wednesday.

"Better late than never, but luckily citizens will be able to express themselves with the cote on May 26," Salvini said, referring to the European elections.

The anti-migrant Euroskeptic League leader has frequently criticised Juncker, and on at least one occasion implied that the EC chief was allegedly a heavy drinker.

