On Tuesday, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) re-elected Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta) as President of the European Parliament, securing 562 votes in the first round of voting. Metsola will continue to lead the Parliament for the first two and a half years of the 10th legislative term.
Election Results:
- Roberta Metsola (EPP, Malta): 562 votes
- Irene Montero (The Left, Spain): 61 votes
- Total votes cast: 699
- Blank or invalid votes: 76
- Absolute majority needed: 312
Roberta Metsola, born in Malta in 1979, has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2013. She was elected First Vice-President in November 2020 and became the acting President after the death of David Sassoli in January 2022. Metsola was then elected as President for the second half of the 9th legislative term on 18 January 2022. She is the third woman to hold this position, following Simone Veil (1979-1982) and Nicole Fontaine (1999-2002).
President Metsola’s Address:
After her election, President Metsola addressed the Parliament, emphasizing the importance of hope and unity in Europe. She stated:
“Together, we must stand up for the politics of hope, for the dream that is Europe. I want people to recapture a sense of belief and enthusiasm for our project. A belief to make our shared space safer, fairer, more just, and more equal. A belief that together we are stronger and we are better. A belief that ours is a Europe for all.”
A full version of her speech will soon be available on the European Parliament’s website.
Press Conference:
Roberta Metsola will hold a press conference at 13:00 CET in the Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Details on how to follow or attend the press conference can be found in the media advisory.
Candidates’ Presentations:
Before the voting, the two candidates presented their platforms. Their speeches can be watched online, with individual links to Roberta Metsola and Irene Montero.
About the Role of the Parliament’s President:
The President of the European Parliament holds significant executive and representative powers, as outlined in the Rules of Procedure. The President presides over the proceedings, ensuring they are properly conducted. Under Article 14 of the Treaty on the European Union, the Parliament elects its President from among its Members for a renewable period of two and a half years. Since the first European elections in 1979, 31 Presidents have served, with 17 elected post-1979.