On 25 October 2009, Bersani defeated incumbents Dario Franceschini and Ignazio Marino in the Democratic Party leadership election, thus becoming Italy's main opposition leader, scoring 55.1% among party members.
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Any winner came out from the election; the votes were divided into three parts: the centre-left alliance, Italy Common Good, whose major party was the Democratic Party, led by Pier Luigi Bersani, the Centre-right Coalition, led by Silvio Berlusconi with his People of Freedom party, and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, whose leade was Beppe Grillo.
On 25 November Vendola won 15.6% of the vote and came third behind Democrats Pier Luigi Bersani (44.9%) and Matteo Renzi (35.5%).