“President De Luca, [I’m] that bitch Meloni. How are you?” said the prime minister as she introduced herself on the sidelines of the inauguration of a sports centre in Caivano, outside Naples.

“Welcome,” De Luca replied. “I’m in good health.”

A video of the exchange was posted via social media by FdI’s party festival of Atreju.

On February 16, Meloni criticised De Luca’s leading hundreds of southern mayors in a protest near parliament against the government’s controversial ‘differentiated autonomy’ plans which critics say will worsen the North-South gap.

She said he should spend more time working than leading protests.

De Luca responded by saying “let her work, the bitch”.

ANSA