Maltese EPP MEP Roberta Metsola was elected president of the European Parliament with 458 votes. An overwhelming majority (the absolute majority was 309 votes).
The voters were 690: blank or null ballots 74; votes cast 616.
Green candidate Alice Kuhke got 101 votes, the candidate Sira Rego (The Left), 57 votes.
Metsola, I will collect David Sassoli inheritance
“The first thing I would like to do, as president, is to take up the legacy that David Sassoli left us. David was a fighter for Europe, for us, for this Parliament. He believed in the power of Europe to forge a new path in this world. Thank you David. “This was declared – in Italian – by the newly elected president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, in her first speech.
“I feel honored by the responsibility you entrust to me – added the new president – I promise you that I will do my best to work for this Parliament and for the citizens of Europe “.
“We have to ensure that the Conference on the Future of Europe has the necessary support it needs to ensure concrete results and, in particular, we must listen to our young people in this year dedicated to them. “This was declared by the new president Metsola, at the opening of her inauguration speech.
von der Leyen, Metsola terza donna presidente
“Warmest congratulations to Roberta Metsola on her election as President of the European Parliament”. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, writes in a tweet.
Warmest congrats @RobertaMetsola on your election as @Europarl_EN President.
As the 3rd woman to head this noble house, your hard work & determination are an inspiration to us all.
We’ll work closely together for the EU‘s recovery and a green, digital & bright European future. pic.twitter.com/41G1anxJI6
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 18, 2022
“As the third woman at the head of this noble Chamber, iYour hard work and determination inspire us all. We will work closely for the recovery of the EU and a green, digital and bright European future “, reads the tweet.
Campomenosi, Lega vote in Metsola is not bargaining
“We have decided, as a League, to vote for the EPP candidate, Roberta Metsola, for the presidency of the European Parliament because she is a woman we know and appreciate and she is well aware of the issues that Italians bring to Brussels, in particular on immigration and management of the Mediterranean. Our choice is not the result of bargaining and we have nothing to do with the division that was agreed yesterday between Ppe, S & D and liberals “. This was declared to the AGI by the head of delegation of the League to the European Parliament, Marco Campomenosi.
“On the contrary, in terms of content, we hope that the EPP will not be forced to turn even further to the left under Weber’s leadership, in particular with regard to the issues of ecological transition”, he explains.
“And we ask Metsola to represent, as president, the rights of minorities in our Parliament. The position he will have foresees that he must guarantee balance and common sense and also represent the requests of those who are not part of the majority “, concludes Campomenosi.