Maltese MEP and EPP member Roberta Metsola was chosen, in the first round, to fill the post of President of the European Parliament, left vacant following the untimely death of David Sassoli .
The votes in favor were 458. The number of voters was 690, the blank ballots were 74, the votes cast were 617. In favor of the Maltese, Sassoli's vice president since November 2020 and therefore interim president, they announced the Lega and the Ecr group also voted in favor, guaranteeing it 113 more preferences than its predecessor who was elected in the second round.
THE SPEECH IN ITALIAN - "I will honor David Sassoli as president by always fighting for Europe - were his first words, also spoken in Italian -. David was a fighter for Europe. He believed in the power of Europe. Thank you David" .
"I feel honored by the responsibility you entrust to me. I promise that I will do my best to work for the benefit of all citizens - she added -. I want people to recover a sense of faith and enthusiasm for our project. I believe in a space shared more just, equitable and supportive ". "Disinformation in the pandemic period has fueled isolationism, and nationalism, these are false illusions, Europe is the exact opposite of this".
Metsola becomes president of the European Parliament on the day of his 43rd birthday: Maltese politics, a member of the Nationalist Party of the Mediterranean island, was born on January 18, 1979. She is the youngest president of the Strasbourg Assembly and the third woman in the history of the European Parliament.
THE REACTIONS - On Twitter the congratulations of the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who underlines that she is the third woman "at the helm of this noble house. Your hard work and your determination will be an inspiration for all of us". "We - writes von der Leyen - will work closely for recovery and for a green, digital and bright European future".
"Congratulations to Roberta Metsola, new president of the EU Parliament" who is "the beating heart of European democracy. I can't wait to collaborate with you, dear Roberta," said EU Council President Charles Michel.
From Italy the best wishes of the president of Forza Italia Silvio Berlusconi, who remotely participated in the session of the Parliament for the election: "Congratulations to the new president of the European Parliament, Mr Roberta Metsola. We have supported you with conviction from the beginning because she is a great friend of Italy even before an authoritative exponent of the European People's Party. In her candidacy speech she perfectly hit the Union's next challenges: economic growth, reforms and migration control. ".
(Unioneonline / D)