Christian Solinas, of the anti-immigration party League, is projected to win by almost half after 20 percent of the votes were counted. Scoring 48 percent, he came in ahead of the centre-left at 34 percent and Five Star on just 11 percent in Sunday’s election on the island of Sardinia – a result which could have repercussions for the ruling coalition between League and Five Star. It comes as polls show the League is set to enjoy significant gains in the upcoming EU elections, with one political consultant even going as far as to say Five Star could “blow up altogether” if it fails to get at least 20 per cent of vote in the May polls.
League’s gain will humiliate Five Star and serve as a fresh blow to the already fractured ruling partnership.
The two parties have disagreed in recent weeks over several issues including the construction of an Alpine tunnel and which side to take in Venezuela’s political crisis.
Selfie-loving Matteo Salvini’s anti-immigration League still contests local elections together with its traditional centre-right allies, Forza Italia and Brothers of Italy.
In Sardinia, it is seeking to oust an incumbent centre-left administration.
Last March’s national election saw Five Star win 42.5 percent of the vote in Sardinia, propelling it into power.
Late last summer Mr Salvini outraged liberal and left-wing movements at home and in Europe when he refused to allow an Italian coastguard ship carrying 177 migrants, most of whom were Eritrean, to dock.
Politicians in League and Five Star see the EU elections as a key test which could affect the balance of power in both Rome and Brussels.
Five Star leader and Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte denied last weekend’s vote would impact the government.
Mr Conte said: “We must not over-emphasise a regional election. I don’t believe the results could have any consequences for the national government.”
Francesco Galletti of Italian political consultancy Policy Sonar, told Bloomberg: “Five Star is subject to extreme volatility in elections, and the Sardinia outcome adds pressure on Di Maio ahead of the European Union elections.
“Five Star could blow up altogether if the party gets less than 20 percent of votes in the EU ballot, putting Di Maio’s role at risk.”