ROME--- On Friday, politician Lorenzo Fontana was elected to be the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. Fontana is notorious for his anti-LGBT rhetoric and ideologies that align closer to Putin’s rule in Russia than a democratic one. In his political past, Fontana has stated that, “families with same sex parents don’t exist” and that he “highly admires President Putin and his system of values.”

 In his speech directly after his election, the new speaker said, “the greatness of Italy is diversity. Italy’s interest is to sublimate the diversity.” However, many believe that Fontana’s election means anything but acceptance of diversity in Italy. Deputy Alessandro Zan stated, “Fontana has built his entire political existence with messages of hatred and discrimination against the LGBT and women. This election risks legitimizing the homophobes and hate speech of this country.”

The values of those being elected, including Fontana and Meloni, reflect a neo-fascism growing in Italy, and many members of European parliaments express concerns. Tiziana Beghin, head of 5-star delegation in the European Parliament said, “In the past Lorenzo Fontana has expressed also homophobic rhetoric, hatred towards women’s free choice of abortion and prejudices towards gay couples. Is this the idea of future that EPP wants to deliver?”

 Fontana’s election marks another victory for the ultra-nationalistic and conservative far right, solidifying the extremist party’s power.