Italian election: PM candidate calls on EU to change ‘UNFAIR’ laws – or watch money LEAVE

Mr Di Maio’s 5 Star Movement (M5S) had previously run on a manifesto calling for a euro opt-out referendum.

The decision to drop its long-held threat did not however stop the M5S candidate for the 2018 Italian Election from issuing a stark warning to the European Union.

He said: “We need to start a season of debate on what’s not working.

“Certainly, a key contractual card we bring to the table is the €20bn we give to the EU each year.”

Mr Di Maio said “unfair” EU treaties are having a bad impact on Italian businesses and industries and his party would seek to resolve current tensions by threatening the European Union to cut budget contributions. 

Italy has long been considered a threat to European stability because of the ill-health of its banks, on which the country’s political disharmony has a substantial bad impact.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Mr Di Maio continued: “We want to be listened to otherwise all those sectors and industries that are suffering from injustice because of European treaties and directive will have to be reimbursed.

“We’ll start reimbursing them by cutting part of our contribution to the EU. But I hope I won’t have to go that far.”

Mr Di Maio also warned the European Union and its institutions about their need to change if they want to survive the uncertain European political climate.

He added: “If the European Union doesn’t change its regulations, it will die. I think now is the right political moment for the EU to reform. People have finally voted in France, in the UK, and in Germany. Excluding the Brexit results in England, national leaders can now start making decisions without fear of losing votes. Despite already having lost most of it because they didn’t address the issues.

“We want the EU to exist, but it must do so in a fair way inspired by its founding principles.”

In perfect synch with his party line, Mr Di Maio is planning to run on a manifesto promising a swift reform of the overly-bureaucratic Italian legislative system.

The changes suggested include a renegotiation of Italy’s relationship with the European Union, plagued with defects and in need of modernisation according to Mr Di Maio.

He said: “We want to change the EU, we want to modify a series of treaties, rules that don’t work. 

“The monetary union has many defects. Before letting Italians decide whether they want out or not we need to rectify these defects. In its first year, an M5S Government will focus on EU negotiations to try to bring together all European leaders that have become critical of the rules of the game

The 5 Star Movement is the country’s single most popular party in the polls but because it opposes forming a coalition with others, it stands little chance of being a part of any future government.

Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia meanwhile has risen in popularity, tailing ruling Democratic Party with 18 percent of support against 20.7 percent.

Another poll carried out by Index Research for the TV channel La7, indicated tax cuts, more public spending and changing European Union budget rules have become a clarion call for all major parties, and several have promised benefits for the poor.