The Maltese MEP and First Vice President of the European Parliament won the internal race by landslide and is now one step closer to EU Parliament Presidency.
Roberta Metsola chosen EPP candidate to run for EU Parliament president
The MEPs of the European People’s Party chose Roberta Metsola as their candidate for EU Parliament President in a meeting on Wednesday evening.
The PN MEP won with 64.4%, receiving 112 of the 174 votes cast. Her competitors Esther de Lange (Netherlands) and Othmar Karas (Austria) received 44 and 18 votes.
If Roberta Metsola wins the presidential election on 17 January, she would be the youngest president in the history of the European Parliament and the highest-ranking politician in Maltese history.
However, the S&D group wants to keep hold of the presidency, with current president David Sassoli believed to be seeking a second term.
In a press conference yesterday evening, Metsola repeatedly outlined her priorities – creating alliances and seeking majorities.
“I think what it takes is persons who can sit with their colleagues, negotiate and seek majorities. That is what I will do at all levels I will work in”, Metsola said.
“That includes of course the S&D group with whom I have worked constantly and consistently and also concretely – because they know me and I know my colleagues there – over the next few weeks in order to get the majority that is needed for the next president to be the representative. With that humility I would be the next president of this parliament.”
Roberta Metsola has received countless congratulations, especially from PN and EPP politicians.
Former PN leader Simon Busuttil said “No more glass ceilings – Roberta Metsola has smashed them all!”
Matthew Caruana Galizia commented “What a triumph for a person our government constantly attacked as a traitor. And why? Because she called for justice for my mum.”
