Ignazio La Russa, founder of the "Brothers of Italy" party, and former Minister of Defense (in Silvio Berlusconi's government: 2008-2011), was elected president of the Senate, the upper house of the Italian Parliament. According to the results of the secret ballot, which was counted at the first session of the newly elected Senate on Thursday, he received 116 votes, which exceeds the necessary threshold of an absolute majority.
La Russa was elected after the first ballot by representatives of the center-right coalition of the Brothers of Italy, League, and Forward Italy parties, which won the September 25 election and has a majority in parliament. In the Senate of the previous conference, La Russa was vice president.
