There is, however, just one little snag: neither Salvatore nor his ministers own the eighty hectare hunk of rock. In reality it belongs to an Englishman and is officially part of Italy.

“Even senior Meloni himself understands the republics are not set up this way. He is doing this purely for self-promotion, nobody around here takes him seriously,” says Cristiano Carrus, mayor of neighbouring Cabras.

Salvatore is a veteran separatist. Once Sardinia gained autonomy he began looking for a new cause. The Republic of Mal Entu is his latest project, but his independence claim hasn't yet reached Rome.

“He may be Napoleon’s grandson. As long as he causes no harm, we’ll let him has his fun,” says Alfredo Mantovano, Italy’s deputy interior minister.

Despite official apathy, Meloni has big plans for his little republic.

“We’ll be selling stamps, t-shirts, umbrellas with our republics logo, everyone visiting will support our economy. Our money, unu, it will be worth about five euros on the island,” he says.

For now the only inhabitants of the island are migrant birds and crabs. The only structure is the president’s blue tent.

However, Meloni says there are thousands ready to roll up their sleeves to build up Mal Entu, as soon as he or anyone else is allowed to live there.