Salvini faces setback in regional elections in Italy

Italy’s politician Matteo Salvini faces a setback after the centre-left Democratic Party beat his league party in the elections held in the country’s north.

The left has ruled Emilia-Romagna since after World War II.

Salvini concentrated on the area before Sunday’s local election.

However, local media showed that PD is dominating over league parties, achieving around 49% to 51% of the votes. League party is likely to get 43% to 45% votes.

Final results are likely to be declared today.

The election has been conducted as an observation of the national coalition government in which PD was joined by Five Star Movement forces after Matteo Salvini took back his party from the office.

PD leader Nicola Zingaretti said, “Emilia-Romagna has sent a signal. Salvini knows how to talk about problems, but he doesn’t know how to sort them out and the people have responded,”

According to exit polls, Salvini and his allies are predicted to beat the PD in another regional election to be held in the Southern region of Calabria.

It should be remembered that Italy’s Education Minister Lorenzo Fioramonti said in December that he has resigned in a letter sent to the Italian premier after the government failed to increase funding for schools and universities in next year’s budget.