Italy's right-wing leader, Matteo Salvini, failed to beat decades of leftist rule in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna on Sunday in an election that brought relief to the centre-left. 

With 98 percent of the ballots counted Democratic Party (PD) governor Stefano Bonaccini has won 51.4% percent of the vote compared to 43.7 percent for the candidate backed by the League and its allies, according to interior ministry data. 

Salvini campaigned relentlessly in the region since the beginning of the year, with his sights set on a victory that would bring down the national government. 

"The ruling majority comes out (of the regional elections) stronger" said PD leader Nicola Zingaretti, saying that Salvini had not succeeded in his attempt to "shove the government out."

Whilst the main victory would have been Emilia-Romagna, one of Italy's most prosperous and affluent regions, Salvini's rightist block did win a separate regional election on Sunday in the southern region of Calabria. 

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."

Turnout for the election reflected the high level of interest, at 68 percent, 30 points up from the last poll in 2014. 

The Democratic Party's (PD) coalition partner, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, also dodged disaster, winning just 3.5% of the vote in Emilia-Romagna and just over seven percent in Calabria. 

The party, which was the largest group in the 2018 national election, with 33% backing, has seen its support dwindle in recent months following a series of defections amongst its lawmakers as well as the resignation of its leader Luigi Di Maio. 

Political analysts predicted that Sunday's results would reduce 5-Star's standing within the coalition and as a result, give the PD more power to dictate its own policy priorities. 

Last August, Salvini's League walked out of government, expecting to trigger a national election that polls predicted he would easily win. The PD instead joined with the 5-Star movement  and Salvini has since focused on victory in local votes. 

Since March 2018, the right has now won nine regional elections, with the recent loss in Emilia-Romagna. 

Salvini's message centred around anti-immigrant and anti-European policies which pledged to slash taxes whereas Bonaccini focused on mainly core regional issues, resulting in one of the highest approval ratings of any regional election. 

Bonaccini's popularity was amplified by a grassroots movement known as "the Sardines", which is known for its anti-Salvini rallies.