With 80 per cent of seats counted, she was ahead of Stefano Bonaccini: 53.8 per cent to 46.2 per cent.

“The democratic people are alive, and they are ready to get back on their feet with a clear objective,” Schlein said in a speech to her electorate.

“We will be a thorn in the side of the Meloni Government. We will be here.

“Today there was another massacre that will weigh on the conscience of those who only a few days ago passed a bill that would prevent rescues at sea, even for ships that enter Europe legally,” Schlein added in reference to the migrant shipwreck off the coast of Calabria.

“From tomorrow we will work together in the interests of the country.

“We will work for unity, my commitment is to be the leader for all, and for us to return to victory.”

With a short speech, her challenger accepted defeat.

“The first thing I ask is that you give Elly Schlein a round of applause,” Bonaccini said.

“I’ve heard her and I offer her my congratulations, I wish her the best of luck in the great responsibility she takes on as party leader.

“Elly won and I am at her disposal to lend a hand.”

Bonaccini confirmed there would be no division.

“From tomorrow we all need to lend a hand to relaunch the Democratic Party, we feel the responsibility and it’s our duty to make ourselves available, we need to help Elly."

Among the first to comment on Schlein’s victory was Senator Dario Franceschini.

“An overwhelming surge in which no one saw coming,” Franceschini said.

“A wave of hope, of rage, of pride, of enthusiasm that the voters brought in choosing to be led into the future by a young woman.

“Today, a new story truly begins.”

According to the data from her electorate, Schlein was ahead in 14 regions and many cities such as Naples, Milan and Bologna.

The same can be said of Tuscany, where part of Schlein’s team is located, including the new regional secretary of the party, Emiliano Fossi.

However, Bonaccini led in both Puglia and Caserta.

The first images of the long queues at polling stations brought confidence to Schlein’s team, who always considered high voter participation a key to success.

The number of votes she received exceeded anyone’s expectations.

Around 600,000 votes by 1pm. Over a million by the end of the day.

These numbers are not as high as the 3.5 million who turned out to vote in 2007, nor the 1.6 million in 2019, but they were nonetheless unexpectedly high.

The expectations for this new phase of the Democratic Party are that they will focus on building a new team to get to work from their headquarters as well as move on from infighting.

During the campaign, the candidates had accused one another of being propped up by more powerful members of the party.

Schlein is looking to surround herself with a team consisting of young people and women.

She has chosen Congressman Marco Furfaro as the spokesperson for the motion.

Also on her team are Congresswomen Chiara Braga and Chiara Gribaudo, Congressman Marco Sarracino, as well as Senator Francesco Boccia.

ANSA