The ousted former Italian premier, Matteo Renzi, has forbade members of his defeated Democrats from backing the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement in a coalition.

Renzi took to Facebook on Tuesday after national election results showed his once-dominant Democratic Party had brought the center-left to its worst showing ever, with the coalition taking less than 23 per cent of the vote.

The center-right coalition had 37 per cent and 5-Stars 32 per cent.

Matteo Renzi (pictured) reminded his supporters that 5-Stars and the anti-immigrant League 'represent the opposite of our values'

Neither obtained enough to govern.

That outcome has kicked off weeks of horse-trading as each potential governing force tries to pick up support from elsewhere, including from disillusioned Democrats who might be tempted to back the 5-Stars.

'For me, the Democratic Party has to be where the people put us: in the opposition,' Renzi wrote.

'If anyone from our party thinks otherwise, let him or her say so,' either in an upcoming party meeting or in Parliament.

Renzi drew criticism from within the Democrats when he announced Monday that he was delaying his resignation as Democratic Party secretary until after the government is formed.

The delay was seen as a maneuver to stem any potential Democrats from jumping ship to back the 5-Stars, but critics also questioned Renzi's motives and called it a 'fake' resignation.

A clearly upset Renzi reminded his supporters that both the 5-Stars and the anti-immigrant League that now controls the center-right coalition have insulted the Democrats and 'represent the opposite of our values.'

'They're anti-European, anti-political and have used a language of hatred,' Renzi wrote.

'They said we were corrupt, mafiosi, and that we have blood on our hands because of immigration.

I don't think they've changed their mind overnight.'

Renzi (pictured) drew criticism from within the Democrats after he announced he would postpone his resignation until after a stable government had been formed

His stark warning suggested that the threat of PD defections or support to the 5-Stars is very real.

Analysts have noted that the stunning success of the 5-Stars, a grassroots movement that only was launched nine ago, came in great part at the expense of the Democrats, including in their onetime stronghold of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy.

Researchers at the Bologna-based Cattaneo Institute, analyzing data from a select number of cities, concluded that of the 2.6 million voters the Democrats lost since the 2013 general election, 'relevant numbers' went to the 5-Stars, as well as to a lesser degree the League and a new left-wing party.

Yesterday Italy's voters chose populism over traditional politics.

But whether these eurosceptics can put aside their distrust and rivalries to rule together was the big question as the nation embarked on a new era following a quarter-century of largely predictable coalition-formula politics.

A centre-right coalition including Silvio Berlusconi's (pictured) Forza Italia and far-right League party won about 37 per cent of the parliamentary vote, according to preliminary results

In an upset, the results showed the right-wing, anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic League party of Matteo Salvini (pictured, today) surpassing its coalition partner, the establishment Forza Italia party of ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi

Emerging on top - and the pick of nearly a third of those who cast ballots - was the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, founded in 2009 by comic Beppe Grillo and the largest opposition force in the just-ended legislature.

The other main player in maneuvers to try to form a government is the anti-immigrant League, led by Matteo Salvini, which expanded beyond its northern base to outpoll the conservative Forza Italia, the party created in the mid-1990s by Silvio Berlusconi.

Top German MEP urges Berlin to 'get out of the euro' after Italy election German MEP Hans-Olaf Henkel has urged his country to 'get out of the euro' in the wake of the Italian election. Henkel told Express.co.uk that the 'majority' of Italy's election results were 'critical towards the EU' and that politicians had all 'promised the moon' to the Italian voters. He added: 'The results will mean even higher debts than those 130 per cent of state debt today, further deterioration of competitiveness of Italian industry and more unemployment. 'But Italian president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, will print even more money. 'In the end, the eurozone will be the ideal transfer mechanism from the north to the south. That's why Germany must get out of the euro now!' Advertisement

In his first comments on Monday, Salvini repeated his stance that the euro was bad for Italy, insisting that 'it's a wrong currency and a wrong choice'.

Berlusconi, sidelined from holding office due to a tax fraud conviction and relishing the prospect of playing kingmaker after Sunday's vote, suffered what could be a definitive blow for the 81-year-old media mogul.

Berlusconi's Forza Italia captured only 14 percent of the vote, compared to 18 percent for coalition partner Salvini's League, which achieved virtual dominance in Italy's prosperous northern regions, where Berlusconi made much of his immense wealth.

The League's votes, along with Forza Italia and those of a smaller partner, the far-right Brothers of Italy, totaled 37 percent of ballots cast - nowhere near the absolute majority needed to win the confidence votes in each chamber of Parliament required under Italy's system for governing.

The 5-Stars Movement's better-than-expected 32 percent showing was boosted by its dominance of the south, where Forza Italia had long held sway.

This north-south divide is a new element that could complicate any power-sharing, political analyst Angelo Panebianco said.

'Government formation will take longer because of this division' as leaders adjust to new territorial equilibriums, he said on Sky TG24.

Further complicating the path toward a new government are campaign vows by the Five Star Movement to never to govern in a coalition.

Three billboards were seen being driven around Rome, saying 'If you Bunga Bunga with extremists, you don't win. Capiche, Berlusconi?'

Savoring the center-right's performance, Salvini vowed that the bloc had won 'the right and the duty to govern.'

Berlusconi and Salvini huddled on Monday at the mogul's estate on Milan's outskirts, but there were no indications what strategy the two leaders might chart.

'I am and I will remain a populist,' Salvini told reporters.

He sought to assure financial markets that his leadership wouldn't be anything to fear, even as he reaffirmed his belief that Italy's membership in the euro common currency was a mistake.

Asked about the possibility of joining forces with the Five Star Movement to govern, Salvini replied: 'No, no, no.'

For its part, the Five Star Movement has insisted it would never dirty itself by joining a government alliance.

But as the first results were trickling in early Monday, its leaders started sending another message, saying they expected Italy's parties will have to come to them to work out a deal for government.