The Sardinian Action Party supported by Matteo Salvini's far-right League, was proclaimed the winner of Sunday's election in Sardinia | Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images 5Stars take another big hit in regional Italian election Support for populist party plunges to 11 percent from 42 percent in last year’s general election.

A center-right coalition emerged the winner for the governorship of the Italian island of Sardinia Monday night.

After an unusually long vote count, Christian Solinas, a senator from the Sardinian Action Party and the candidate supported by Matteo Salvini's far-right League, was proclaimed the winner of Sunday's election with around 47 percent of the vote. The center-left candidate, Cagliari Mayor Massimo Zedda, came in second with 34 percent, while the 5Stars' man, Francesco Desogus, came third on 11 percent.

The result is another big blow for the 5Stars after the Abruzzo regional election earlier this month, in which the populist party halved its vote share. The results were even worse in Sardinia, where the 5Stars' support plunged from 42 percent in the 2018 general election. It echoes the governing parties' performance in other regional elections and polling, which show the League picking up support while the 5Star Movement, which forms the other — bigger — half of the ruling coalition, continues to hemorrhage votes.

"The result is below what we expected, but I knew from the beginning it was going to be very hard for me to win," the 5Stars' Desogus acknowledged.

5Star Senator Paola Nugnes, one of the most vocal critics of party leader and Italian Deputy PM Luigi Di Maio, blamed "his leadership," which she said "must be called into question."

Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy, which is an ally of Salvini on a regional level but a member of the opposition in national government, said "it looks like the end for this government is near."

Di Maio and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte played down the results of the regional vote, both saying separately in identical comments that "general election results can't be compared to regional ones," and adding that the Sardinian vote would have "no impact on the government." However, the 5Star leader also said the party will "restructure" and "important changes will be announced in the coming days."