Macron says he 'won't respond' to populist Italian leaders
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that he will not respond to criticism by populist Italian leaders Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini because their words are of "no interest".
"I will not respond. That's what they want (for me to respond)... all of that is of no interest," the French head of state told reporters on the first day of a visit to Egypt.
"The Italian people are our friends and deserve leaders who match their history," he added.
After visiting Egypt, Macron is expected in Cyprus to take part this afternoon in a summit of southern EU countries -- known as the Med7 -- where he is due to meet Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.
While Conte has recently spoken of the "historical friendship" between France and Italy, his interior minister Salvini has been trying to organise a far-right challenge to pro-Europeans within the EU bloc, and has said he hopes that the French people will soon be free of a "very bad president".
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