BRUSSELS: Roberta Metsola has been reelected as President of the European Parliament in a decisive vote on Tuesday, demonstrating a strong endorsement of her leadership and vision for the European Union.
Following the EU parliamentary elections held from June 6-9, the EU Parliament Plenary Session convened in Strasbourg, France, the formal seat of the European Parliament located near the German border.
The president was elected during the first session by 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who will serve for five years in the 10th legislative term.
Metsola, the candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP), won with an absolute majority, defeating Spanish MEP Irene Montero of the Left Group. Metsola secured 562 votes out of 699, while Montero received 61 votes in the closed envelope voting, demonstrating widespread support for Metsola across the EU.
In her victory speech, Metsola spoke about the necessity of creating a more equal Europe by remembering past struggles and promoting inclusivity. She emphasized the importance of creating a “safer, fairer, more just, and equal” Europe, pledging to enhance the continent’s security, competitiveness, and social welfare.
“The laws passed by the EU Parliament should benefit everyone in Europe,” she stated, adding, “We share the responsibility to leave Europe a better place than the one we found.”
To achieve this vision, Metsola stressed the importance of “creating a new security and defense framework that keeps people safe and counters the expansionist dreams of dictators.”
She also highlighted the need to “double down on Europe’s competitiveness, deepen the single market, ensure quality jobs, conclude global trade deals, complete our banking and Capital Markets Union, and set implementable targets for industry that keep Europe’s business in Europe and allow us to invest in our youth.”
Metsola underscored her commitment to climate action, stating, “We will leave Europe a better place by giving real solutions on climate.” She added, “We will leave Europe a better place if we can reinforce Europe’s social pillar.”
She addressed the housing challenges faced by young people, criticizing the current situation: “We cannot move forward if our youth are unable to rent, let alone buy a place they can call home.”
Metsola pledged to create human-centric migration and asylum legislation, harness the opportunities of the digital age, and ensure equality and inclusion for all. This includes tackling discrimination, hate, and violence, as well as providing equal opportunities for women and people with disabilities. She noted that their goal is to create a Europe where “everyone feels at home” and can live freely and safely.
Since assuming the presidency of the European Parliament in January 2022, Metsola has been known for her strong positions on crucial issues such as the rule of law, climate action, digital transformation, and gender equality. She has defended democratic values, promoted environmental legislation, and advanced the European Green Deal. Her efforts in digital regulation have positioned the EU as a global leader, and her push for gender equality has led to significant measures addressing workplace opportunities and gender-based violence.
