“I have accepted the challenge,” Mr Renzi said.
“See you on Tuesday evening, friends.”
Mr Di Maio had earlier taken to Twitter to challenge Mr Renzi to a debate on a television show following Sunday’s Sicilian elections.
The M5S leader accused Mr Renzi of having made “a deal to divvy up Sicily and Italy” with centre-right Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi.
Mr Renzi responded to the invitation by saying that he would be available on Tuesday, November 7, and suggested the pair decide on which program they would appear.
Mr Di Maio proposed the ‘Di Martedì’ show, fronted by former RAI presenter Giovanni Floris.
He said it was the “most watched” of that night’s two political talk shows.
The other program is RAI’s ‘Cartabianca’, hosted by journalist Bianca Berlinguer, daughter of the late Communist Party leader Enrico Berlinguer.
Mr Renzi argued he would prefer the latter because “it belongs to the citizens, not to a private entrepreneur”, referring to media magnate and Torino owner Urbano Cairo.
Though no agreement has been reached yet, Mr Renzi’s spokesman, Marco Agnoletti, said they are ready to weigh up all options.
With ANSA
