Italy's Chamber of Deputies elects a homophobic, right-wing, and pro-Putin president.

ROME (Reuters) - A pro-Russian and anti-gay politician was elected president of Italy's Chamber of Deputies on Friday, a day after a nationalist parliamentarian, who has a history of fascist memorabilia, became president of the Senate.

The votes for both positions will take place after last month's parliamentary elections. which were defeated by an alliance of conservative partiesThe Brothers of Italy, led by Giorgia Meloni, the League, led by Matteo Salvini, and Forza Italia, led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Meloni is expected to be named prime minister before the end of the month, but forming the cabinet is proving far more difficult than anticipated, with Berlusconi particularly furious at the future leader's refusal to grant his requests for key positions.

Meloni sought to moderate his image during the election campaign, downplaying his previous Euroscepticism and insisting that his party is the country's leading conservative group.

However, the election of presidents for the two chambers of Parliament highlighted the a strong, far-right core that permeates his coalition..

The choice of party veteran Ignazio La Russa, who in 2018 displayed his mementos of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, to lead the Senate was expected.

The choice of League MP Lorenzo Fontana as Speaker of the House, however, was a surprise. He is known for his socially conservative and Eurosceptic positions and has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him in 2018 "a bright light even for us in the West".

Fontana is a well-known and controversial figure in Italy. He once said that... Gay marriage and mass immigration threatened to end the country's traditions.And he is fervently against abortion.

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