Rome  - Italy's opposition Democratic Party on Sunday elected former minister Pier Luigi Bersani the party's new leader.

Though precise results had not yet been made public, Bersani was the clear winner in a vote with unexpectedly high voter turnout, incumbent leader Dario Franceschini said in a press conference.

Nearly 3 million voters cast ballots, nearly as many as in a 2007 vote that put Walter Veltroni as the PD's first leader. The high turnout was unexpected after party strife following losses in 2008 parliamentary elections.

Bersani beat out Franceschini and Senator Ignazio Marino.

"I will be the leader of the PD, but in my own manner," Bersani said after the win, calling the party "not the party of one man, but a collective of protagonists."

The 58-year-old northern Italian was a frequent minister under Romano Prodi and was seen as an clear and economically experienced answer to scandal-beset Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Officials results were expected Monday. (dpa)