Matteo Salvini ready to ‘confront EU’ after Italy’s budget rejected again

Far-right deputy PM defiant despite threat of sanctions of up to 0.7% of GDP

Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini has said he is prepared to confront EU leaders after the European commission rejected his country's draft 2019 budget for a second time, while calling on them to "respect the Italian people".

Italy is facing sanctions after the commission said in a report that the government of the far-right League and anti-establishment Five Star Movement had seriously violated fiscal rules.