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ROME — Italy’s League leader Matteo Salvini said on Sunday he was not ready to concede defeat in a regional election and would wait for the full results after initial forecasts suggested he would lose the closely watched vote.

Private broadcaster Mediaset forecast that the candidate for the center-left Democratic Party (PD) had won 50.1% against 43.6% for the League candidate. State television RAI put the PD incumbent some three points ahead of his opponent.

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Speaking to reporters as the count continued, Salvini said he was proud of having challenged the left in a region it has run since World War Two. “After 70 years, there was a contest. Previously, the match was always over before it started.” (Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer)