The leader of Italy’s right-wing League party has said he will not give ground in a stand-off that is blocking the country’s next government from taking office.

League leader Matteo Salvini tweeted on Sunday that he would keep fighting “to the end” for the anti-euro candidate he wants to be economy minister.

Paolo Savona has likened Italy to being in a “cage” of austerity restrictions favoured by fellow eurozone member Germany.

President Sergio Mattarella, who as Italy’s head of state must approve the next Cabinet, is staunchly pro-euro.

Italy Politics
Italian premier designate Giuseppe Conte arrives at his home in the centre of Rome (Fabio Frustaci/AP)

Mr Salvini and 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio, a fellow Eurosceptic, have joined forces in the hope of giving Italy its first populist government.

After inconclusive March 4 elections, they proposed a political novice, law professor Giuseppe Conte, as their choice to lead the next government.