League party chief, deputy premier and interior minister Matteo Salvini on Monday claimed Italy's left was finished after the centre-right won elections in the southern Basilicata region and predicted further triumph in upcoming European polls.
"The League Party has tripled its votes in a year. Victory in Basilicata too!" Salvini tweeted after the centre-right candidate for governor, Vito Bardi, won Sunday's vote with around 42% of ballots cast.
"Farewell to the left - now Europe is changing," Salvini said, referencing the expected success in European parliamentary polls in May of populist and far-right parties including the League, which have seen their support surge in many countries.
Centre-left candidate for Basilicata, Carlo Trerotola, came second in Sunday's vote with 32.78% of ballots, while Antonio Mattia, candidate for the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement, came third with 20.67%.
The centre-right's win in Basilicata followed victories in regional elections in Sardinia and in Abruzzo last month, prompting European Parliament president Antonio Tajani to call on Monday for Salvini to ditch 5 Star as the League's coalition partner in the central government and to rule Italy with his conservatives allies.
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