Roberta Metsola re-elected president of European Parliament
Roberta Metsola was re-elected president of the European Parliament on Tuesday in Strasbourg. The 45-year-old Christian democrat from Malta secured a large majority in the first round of voting.
Metsola has been president for the past two-and-a-half years. At the start of the first plenary session since June's European elections, she was re-elected and will lead the 720 MEPs until 2027.
Metsola secured the required absolute majority of votes cast in a secret ballot. She obtained 562 votes, which constitutes a comfortable victory.
Metsola is a member of the Christian democrat and conservative European People's Party (EPP), which, with 188 seats, is once again the largest political family in the Parliament. She also enjoyed wide support from the other pro-European groups. A large part of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group also voted for her.
Metsola's only opposing candidate was Spanish former minister Irene Montero from the far-left group. She received 61 votes. 76 MEPs cast an invalid or blank vote.
“We need to stand up tall, this must be a house that cannot be afraid to lead and to change,” Metsola told lawmakers in Strasbourg, according to Euronews. “This last mandate, we have learned that the future is anything but predictable." She added that, as president, she was able to “both stand up for our Parliament and build bridges across the political divide”. "My door will always remain open, members will be treated fairly and with dignity," she said.
Roberta Metsola delivers a speech during a session to elect the new president of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, 16 July 2024 © PHOTO FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP
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