Early results suggest Italy's right-wing leader of the League Party has failed to win a key regional election.
The former deputy prime minister was hoping to unseat the centre-left Democratic Party in Emilia-Romagna, a region that has traditionally been a left-wing stronghold.
But high turnout by an anti-populist movement appears to have tipped the balance.
Still, analysts say the fact that Salvini's party came second shows he is not to be dismissed that easily.
Al Jazeera's Sonia Gallego reports from Bologna, Italy.
