Roberta Metsola: Elected President of European Parliament

Re-election and Significance

• Roberta Metsola re-elected as President of European Parliament
• First woman to secure a second term in EU assembly's history
• Overwhelming support: 562 out of 623 votes in her favor
• Largest margin of victory for a European Parliament president
• Represents the centre-right European People's Party
• Re-election underscores commitment to inclusive politics

Rober Metsola Background and Career

• Born in Malta in 1979
• Member of European Parliament since 2013
• Elected First Vice-President in November 2020
• Became acting Speaker after David Sassoli's death in January 2022
• Elected Speaker for second half of ninth term on January 18, 2022
• Third woman to hold this position, following Simone Veil and Nicole Fontaine
• Known for strong support of Ukraine and its EU aspirations

Vision and Policy Priorities

• Emphasis on unity and inclusiveness to counter societal polarization
• Call for collective stand against political violence and divisions
• Focus on strengthening the rule of law
• Advocacy for women's rights, including access to safe abortions
• Seeking greater legislative powers for Parliament to initiate EU laws
• Support for EU expansion and new countries' accession
• Commitment to maintaining robust stance on geopolitical challenges
• Championing reforms in transparency and accountability

Impact and Future Directions

• Elevating EU Parliament's profile and restoring integrity post-scandals
• Uniting centrist parties and fostering cooperation
• Influencing EU legislative processes and international relations
• Continuing support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict with Russia
• Early visit to Kyiv demonstrated commitment to EU values and solidarity
• Aims to expand EU while addressing internal challenges
• Focus on human rights within the European Union
• Received congratulations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy

About European Parliament

• The European Parliament (EP) is one of the three European Union's legislative body.
• Consisting of 720 members (MEPs) elected every five years by the European Union citizens.
• EP's president is the body's speaker and presides over the multi-party chamber

EP's main functions include -

• Adopting and amending legislation on an equal footing with the Council of the EU.
• Supervising the functioning of all EU institutions, bodies, and organisms.