Ex-premier Matteo Renzi has emerged
victorious from the first part of the congress of the Democratic
Party (PD), winning around 68% of the votes among party members.
Justice Minister Andrea Orlando took around 25% of the votes
and Puglia Governor Michele Emiliano claimed around 6.5%, enough
to keep him in the running to take part in primaries on April
30.
"68%, impressive numbers, long live democracy and thanks to
everyone," Renzi said in a post on Instagram.
"Now down to work, all together".
There was disagreement within the ruling centre-left group
about the turnout.
Organizers said around between 235,000 and 255,000 PD members
voted, but people belonging to Orlando's entourage said the
figures were "not convincing".
"I hope that over two million people vote on that day (April
30), because it would be a blow for the whole party if it were
below that threshold," said Orlando.
Renzi is seeking to be re-elected PD leader with a fresh
mandate after stepping down as premier in December when his
flagship Constitutional reform was rejected in a referendum.
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