Ex-premier and centre right Forza Italia (FI) leader Silvio Berlusconi wrote notes about rightwing Fratelli D’Italia (FdI) leader Giorgia Meloni during Thursday’s election of FdI bigwig Ignazio la Russa as Senate Speaker.

The media magnate described the likely next premier as “presumptuous, over-bearing, arrogant and offensive,” according to a screenshot published on Friday by left-leaning daily la Repubblica.

“No willingness to change, she is one with which you cannot get along,” Berlusconi allegedly wrote, to which Meloni fired back:

“An adjective is missing: I am not blackmailable.”

FI did not take part in the vote, complaining of Meloni’s vetoes on his ministerial proposals, and La Russa was elected thanks to a handful of opposition votes.

La Russa said on Friday, that it was up to Berlusconi to say that the screenshot was a fake.

Meloni is set to become Italy’s first female prime minister after FdI dominated last month’s general election, garnering 26 per cent of the vote compared to 8 per cent for FI and 9 per cent for the third coalition party, Lega.

On Sunday, Corriere della Sera reported that a meeting geared toward reconciliation between Meloni and Berlusconi is set to take place today.

On social media, Lega’s Salvini also called for his fellow coalition members to make amends, presumably out of concern that this clash could threaten the government’s solidity and formation, especially following his own tussles with Meloni over Russian sanctions.

“I am sure even between Giorgia and Silvio that harmony, which will be fundamental to governing well and together for the next five years, will return,” he posted.

Salvini told La Stampa that he had cautioned Berlusconi, warning him not to fight with Meloni.

“I warned him, ‘Look, Giorgia has the numbers, you can’t get in the way,’“ Salvini said.

Enrico Letta, leader of the left wing Democratic Party, jumped to contribute to the discourse on Saturday.

“It does not seem to me to be a majority capable of giving a solid government to the country. They are only able to give the country an internal war, a permanent conflict,” Letta reportedly told La Stampa.