Elly Schlein voted leader of Italy’s most important leftwing party in surprise win

First female leader of Democratic party promises it will become ‘a problem’ for Gigoria Meloni’s far-right government

Italy’s most prominent leftwing party has elected its first female leader.

Elly Schlein, 37, defied poll projections and beat Stefano Bonaccini in the leadership race for the Democratic party (PD) on Sunday.