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ROME (Reuters) - Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini took aim once again on Friday at European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, saying he should stop insulting Italy as tensions rose over the government’s deficit-hiking budget.

Earlier, Juncker had said Rome was not keeping its word on budget deficit commitments and also called on Italian leaders to stop describing EU commissioners as “cold, bunkerised monsters”.

Salvini responded hours later: “Think of your tax haven Luxembourg and stop insulting the Italians and their legitimate government,” he said in a statement.