Roberta Metsola has been reelected as president of the European Parliament, securing a second term at the helm of the EU's legislative body, Politico reports.
The Maltese politician, a member of the center-right European People's Party (EPP), garnered 562 votes from the newly elected 720-member parliament on Tuesday. Her victory ensures she will remain in the role for another two and a half years. Metsola's reelection was widely anticipated, as she ran virtually unopposed. The only other candidate, Irene Montero of The Left, Spain's former minister of equality, received 61 votes in what was seen as a symbolic challenge.
?Heartfelt congratulations, dear @RobertaMetsola - our European Parliament President, the face of European democracy!
The fantastic support received for your re-election is a testament to your outstanding leadership.
Together, let's continue to bring Europe closer to people. pic.twitter.com/rVlfQOls34
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) July 16, 2024
From Israel's perspective, the European Parliament, under the leadership of President Roberta Metsola, is generally expected to show understanding towards Israel in its war against the terrorist organization Hamas in Gaza. Metsola came to Israel on a solidarity visit immediately after the October 7 massacre and visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Afterward, Metsola traveled to Tel Aviv, where she experienced air raid sirens due to a missile attack on central Israel. At the end of the visit, both leaders laid a wreath at the memorial for terror victims in Tel Aviv.
About two weeks after October 7, Israel received exceptional support from the European Parliament under Metsola's presidency. With a majority of 500 members of parliament against only 21 opponents, a resolution was passed strongly condemning Hamas's deadly terror attack while supporting Israel's right to defend itself.
Congratulations, dear @RobertaMetsola, on your reelection as @EP_President
Fully deserved.
Your leadership and passion for Europe is more needed than ever. pic.twitter.com/iqnRm1Yntf
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 16, 2024
In her acceptance speech, Metsola pledged "strong leadership" and vowed to continue advocating for the parliament's right to initiate legislation. "This must be a House that cannot be afraid to lead and change. I will never shy away from making the difficult decisions."
The European Parliament president addressed a range of issues in her speech, including migration, industrial policy, and civil liberties. She emphasized the ongoing importance of supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, stating, "The Russian war of aggression remains at the top of our agenda." She was the first EU leader to visit Ukraine following Russia's invasion in 2022.
Metsola's reelection maintains the traditional power-sharing arrangement between the EPP and the center-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group. The five-year mandate for the presidency is typically split between these two major political blocs.
