(ANSA) - Rome, May 27 - Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini's right-wing League party was the big winner in Italy in the European elections, winning around 34% of the vote.
Support for fellow Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio's 5-Star Movement (M5S) dropped to about 17%, around half the level it registered in last year's general election.
The opposition centre-left Democratic Party (PD), which slumped to its worst-ever showing in the 2018 general election, came second with over 22% of the vote.
Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia was under the 10% mark with around 8.7% of the vote.
The rightwing Brothers of Italy (FDI) party got over 6% and was the only other group to cross the 5% threshold to win representation in the new European Parliament.
Salvini said Monday that he was in favour of a holding meeting of senior government figures to set the agenda after the European elections.
"Yes, I'm here today, tomorrow, the day after," Salvini told a press conference when asked about a possible meeting of government bigwigs. Salvini added that he hopes the cabinet will approve a new security decree he has drafted that is designed to build on the security-and-migration package that was passed last year. "I hope a cabinet meeting will be called this week. The new security decree is ready," he said.
"The sooner it's approved, the better".