Italy’s Democratic Party defeats Salvini’s far-right party the Emilia-Romagna region

Italy’s far-right League party came up significantly short in regional election, held Sunday, in the Emilia-Romagna region, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports. Former Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini heads the party.

Lucia Borgonzoni, from the League, was largely preceded by the outgoing president of the region, Stefano Bonaccini (Democratic Party, center left), who secured around 50% of the votes.

AFP notes that this election was marked by a very high turnout of 67.67% of voters, against 37% in previous regional elections in 2014.

«For the first time there was a contest. Having an open contest in Emilia-Romagna was an emotion for me, after 70 years, for the first time, there was a contest», Salvini said. «Tomorrow something will change in Rome», concluded Salvini.