Roberta Metsola re-elected as president of the European Parliament
The 720 Members of the European Parliament will be led by Roberta Metsola for the next two and a half years. This will mark the beginning of the 10th legislature in Strasbourg.
Roberta Metsola, a 45-year-old Christian Democrat from Malta, has been re-elected as president of the European Parliament. In a vote held on Tuesday morning, she secured 562 votes out of the 623 ballots cast by the newly-elected lawmakers. So it is a comfortable victory that easily surpassed the necessary majority.
A voice for all
In her acceptance speech, Metsola emphasized the importance of the European Parliament’s role in supporting diverse groups across the continent. “We must be the voice that ensures all of our policies work and that they work well for young people, for families, for farmers, and for industry alike,” she said. She highlighted the significance of defending European values. She noted, “We have learnt that we can never take democracy for granted. We have seen that our European values are regarded by too many as a threat. It is a badge given to us by autocrats that we will continue to wear proudly.”
Metsola’s leadership profile
The election results reflect Metsola’s rising profile as a pragmatic leader, willing to work across the political spectrum. Her re-election cements her credentials as a prominent figure in the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP). Metsola was first elected in January 2022, following the sudden passing of her predecessor, David Sassoli. Her elevation was a significant moment for Malta, the smallest country in the EU. This occurrence marked the first time one of its citizens held such a high position.
Since her initial election, Metsola has been actively engaging with European capitals. She has also built personal ties with heads of government, and explained the Parliament’s often misunderstood role. She won plaudits when she visited Kyiv in early April 2022, giving a heartfelt endorsement of Ukraine’s ambitions to join the EU.
Facing challenges head-on
Metsola’s leadership was tested in December 2022 by the Qatargate scandal, a cash-for-favours scandal that led to the arrest of several MEPs. She responded by updating the code of conduct to increase transparency and crack down on corruption. On Tuesday, she urged lawmakers to be accountable and open, upholding the Parliament’s integrity while maintaining a vigilant and critical attitude.
“Ours must become a Europe that is accessible to all, that everyone feels not only part of – but takes ownership of,” she said. Metsola listed climate change, migration management, artificial intelligence, social rights, competitiveness, the simplification of bureaucracy, the fight against hate speech, and the defense of fundamental values as key areas for lawmakers to focus on.
Metsola placed special emphasis on supporting Ukraine’s resistance, the two-state solution in the Middle East, the reunification of Cyprus, women’s rights in Afghanistan, and the democratic movement in Belarus. “We must be ready to face this new world and this new reality,” she said.
Addressing political polarization
In a key moment of her acceptance speech, Metsola denounced political polarization, a troubling trend that threatens coexistence in Western democracies. “Polarization in our societies has led to more confrontational politics, even political violence. The easy answers that divide our communities into ‘us’ and ‘them’. We need to move beyond this zero-sum thinking that has excluded people, that turns people away. That foments anger and hate rather than builds hope and belief,” she stated. “This is the House that stands for the opposite. That wants to build rather than destroy. That is not afraid to take the difficult path. That is able to find and use its voice for the common good.”
Her remarks come amid an increasingly charged political landscape, with recent incidents including assassination attempts on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and former US President Donald Trump, an assault on Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and the brutal beating of German MEP Matthias Ecke.
