Italy’s interior minister, Matteo Salvini, has been accused of behaving “like Pontius Pilate” – the Roman official who avoided responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Mr Salvini has led a popular crackdown on immigration since assuming office in June, closing Italy’s ports to migrant and refugee ships travelling from Libya.

The policy has placed a strain on the relationship between Rome and Paris and other EU nations.

In the latest instance, where Italy refused to let a rescue vessel dock, France, Portugal, Spain and Germany agreed on Tuesday to take in the migrants aboard.

“Mr Salvini today, he’s like Pontius Pilate. It’s obscene,” Nathalie Loiseau, the French minister for European affairs, told RTL radio.

The comments came hours after French president Emmanuel Macron was quoted as saying Italy had “decided to no longer follow international law, in particular humanitarian maritime law”.

Mr Salvini, who is head of the far-right Northern League, accused Mr Macron of hypocrisy on Wednesday, claiming France had turned back more than 50,000 migrants from the Italian border “in recent months”.

“We do not accept lessons on rights or humanity from Mr Macron,” Mr Salvini said in a statement.

The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Show all 7 1 /7 The far-right politicians winning power across Europe The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Viktor Orban – Hungary, Fidesz The Prime Minister of Hungary has threatened to shut down NGOs that help refugees; run a state backed hate campaign against George Soros and removed constitutional checks and balances. He said: 'We have replaced a shipwrecked liberal democracy with a 21st century Christian democracy' Reuters The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Matteo Salvini – Italy, Lega The leader of Italy’s junior governing party has pledged to deport 500,000 irregular migrants; stated joining the euro was a mistake and wants to end sanctions against Russia. He said: 'The only antidote to racism is to control, regulate and limit immigration' AFP/Getty The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Heinz-Christian Strache – Austria, FPO The deputy prime minister of Austria wants to drive Islam out of public life in Austria; has threatening mosque closures and wants to end sanctions against Russia. He said: 'Let us put an end to this policy of Islamisation as soon as possible' AFP/Getty The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Marine Le Pen – France, Front National The runner-up in the French presidential election wants policies to favour ‘native’ French; has stated she would hold an EU referendum and wants to deport irregular migrants. She said: 'I’m not offended when I hear President Donald Trump say "America first". In fact, I want America first for the American people, I want Britain first for the British people and I want France first for the French people' AP The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Janez Jansa – Slovenia, Slovenian Democratic Party The leader of Slovenia’s largest party says the country is run by a secretive former communist cabal; has appointed political allies to press agencies and was sent to prison for alleged corruption which was later overturned by the Constitutional Court. He said: 'Our party puts Slovenia, Slovenians first' Reuters The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Alexander Gauland – Germany, AfD The leader of the first far-right party in the Bundestag in decades says Islam is not a part of Germany; wants a ban on public Islamic symbols and wants to leave the euro. He said: 'A German or English football team hasn’t been German or English in the classical sense for a long time' Alamy The far-right politicians winning power across Europe Jarosław Kaczynski – Poland, Law and Justice The chairman of Poland’s governing party says migrants spread infectious diseases; wants to ban gay people from being teachers and has sought to implement constitutional changes to give government more power over courts. He said: 'It is absolutely clear a homosexual should not be a teacher' Kacper Pempel/Reuters

Mr Salvini has vowed to work together with fellow far-right politician and Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban to obstruct Mr Macron’s European agenda on migration.

Italy has taken in more than 650,000 migrants over the past five years, which has placed a strain on reception centres and local services.

Under European Union regulations, asylum seekers are meant to stay in the first EU country they enter until their application has been processed, which can take several years.

But many migrants reaching Italy want to travel swiftly onto richer countries, including France. The French have stopped migrants crossing the borders, saying EU rules have to be respected.