French politician Marine Le Pen ripped into the European Union claiming the Brussels bloc had become “too totalitarian”.
Mrs Le Pen met with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Monday after vowing to discuss “an alternative to Europe”.
She said: “We are not fighting against Europe. We are fighting against the European Union.
“A system that has become too totalitarian.
“We are fighting against the EU precisely to save the real Europe.”
Italy‘s Deputy Prime Minister Mr Salvini said on Monday the government would not cave in to market pressure and backtrack on its plans to increase deficit spending next year.
He said: “If one had evil thoughts, he would think there are people betting on the spread because they don’t want Italy to grow and create jobs.”
Speaking about the Government’s budget plans, Mr Salvini said: “We will not backtrack, we will not backtrack.”
Before the meeting, Ms Le Pen tweeted: “Thanks to the @UGLNazionale for his invitation and @matteosalvinimi for this joint press conference, where we talked about the stakes of the next #Européennes2019 and the ardent need to make the word and power to the People.”
She later added: “Working lunch with @matteosalvinimi in a typical Roman setting.
“Thanks to him for his welcome, Bravo for his work at the Ministry of the Interior and cap on them.”
On Friday, Mrs Le Pen said: “I will be in Rome on Monday with Matteo Salvini to discuss, at the invitation of Italy’s General Labour Union, economic growth and social prospects in a Europe of nations.
“There is an alternative to Europe and we are building it.”
Mr Salvini has been involved in an ongoing verbal spat with European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker over the past two weeks.
The pair has repeatedly locked horns over the Italian Government’s refusal to back down from a controversial budget proposal to increase its deficit target for next year.