Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Roberta Metsola has been nominated by the EPP for re-election as European Parliament President. Her first term included addressing the Ukraine crisis and a major corruption scandal.
How Did Metsola Win EPP’s Nomination for EP President?
Roberta Metsola has been officially designated as the European People’s Party (EPP) Group’s candidate for President of the European Parliament. The nomination was approved following a vote of approval by EPP MEPs during a closed-door session. Achieving 13 seats, the EPP, or European People’s Party, remains the biggest political group in the European Parliament, with 188 elected MEPs.
“Running to be your candidate for re-election as President of the European Parliament is a responsibility that I take seriously; that I understand is a decision that weighs heavily on all of us,” she conveyed to EPP MEPs following the vote.
“Ready to continue serving the House of Democracy. I am deeply honoured to be nominated by the @EPPGroup for re-election as President of the European Parliament. This is not only a privilege of a lifetime, but a responsibility that I am ready for. I will not let you down.”
Can Metsola Become the First Female EP President Twice?
Having confirmed her grouping’s backing, Metsola must now succeed with the backing of a majority of MEPs in the European Parliament to ensure a second term as president. If she succeeds, she will become only the second MEP in history to function as EP president for two terms, and the first female to do so.
What Are Metsola’s Key Achievements as EP President?
Roberta Metsola first came to the European Parliament in 2013, becoming one of Malta’s first female MEPs. Metsola was re-elected in 2014 and also in 2019. In 2020, she was selected First Vice-President of the EU Parliament, becoming the first Maltese national to hold this position.
Within the EU Parliament, President Metsola was the EPP Group Coordinator in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) between January 2017 and 2020.
Metsola was also the parliament’s rapporteur on the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation in 2019, and she co-composed the parliament’s initiative essay on the need to protect Journalists in the European Union from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).
What Challenges Has Metsola Faced During Her Presidency?
Metsola was elected EP President in January 2022 following the premature death of the previous President, Davide Sassoli. Within weeks of carrying this critical role, Russia invaded Ukraine, plunging Europe into trouble. Metsola was the first president of an EU institution to see the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, momentarily after Russia’s offensive.
Later that year, the European Parliament confronted serious scrutiny after an investigation by Belgian police disclosed that the governments of Qatar, Morocco and Mauritania had channelled cash to MEPs, lobbyists and their families. Following the scandal, the European Parliament submitted new codes of conduct for MEPs in September 2023. Metsola was re-elected as an MEP in this month’s elections, succeeding more votes than any other candidate in Maltese MEP electoral record with over 87,000 first-count votes.
