Italy\'s Salvini launches his own electoral game show. The prize? Himself

If this looks like the start of a cheesy game show - that's because it is.

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the country's far right League party, has launched his own social media competition ahead of the upcoming European elections.

And for the person lucky enough to win... the prize?

Salvini himself.

Mimicking a TV host, Salvini shared a video on his Facebook page inviting supporters to join the online contest.

'The Captain' - as he's known - asked Italian voters to like his posts and retweet his tweets.

Rules are simple: the more you click, share and retweet, the more points you collect.z Prizes vary.

Some will have their photo shared on Salvini's Facebook page - with more than 3 million followers.

Others the chance to speak to their favourite political leader on the phone.

And weekly winners will be able to spend some time with Salvini in person.

Salvini hopes to unite Europe's far-right parties and form a bloc of anti-immigration lawmakers.

But the deputy prime minister's party has seen a drop in support after weeks of feuding with its coalition partner, the 5-Star movement.

He says he's ready to be criticised for the online initiative.

But wished good luck to those he called 'haters': newspapers, intellectuals, sociologists and professors.

Salvini has recently been criticised for his posts - pictures of kittens and his midnight snack.

But in the world of the game show, the politician has form.

A 12-year-old Salvini appeared in the Italian version of Blockbusters, and in 1993 he took part in a show called 'Lunch Is Ready'.