Italy’s deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, provoked a political outcry on Monday after an aide posted a photo of him clutching a machine gun on Facebook ahead of the European elections.

Luca Morisi, one of Salvini’s closest advisors, posted the photo of the League party leader with the caption: “You have noticed how they do everything to throw mud at the League? The Europeans (elections) are approaching….But we are armed and equipped with helmets!”

Mr Salvini, the country’s hardline interior minister, has faced criticism in recent months for repeatedly wearing police and firefighters’ uniforms to reinforce his tough guy image. Nicknamed “Il Capitano” by his followers, he also posed with a military-grade sniper rifle at a police convention in October.