Roberta Metzola from Malta was re-elected President of the European Parliament on Tuesday with a wide majority. It promises “a strong Parliament in a strong Europe”.

In a secret vote that took place on Tuesday morning in Strasbourg, during the first convocation of the new Plenary after the European elections in June, Roberta Metsola, candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP), collected 562 out of a total of 623 valid votes. Her opponent Irene Montero from the political group of the European Left received 61 votes. 76 ballots were invalid.

Rather, it was expected that the candidate of the largest political group in the European Parliament would be re-elected. After all, it’s only Monday night the competitive, but rather symbolic candidacy of the Spanish Montero emerged from Podemos, which was asking for the vote of its colleagues “for a green, democratic, feminist and anti-fascist Europe”, as he characteristically mentioned. Metsola has been an MEP since 2013, while she was first elected to the presidency in January 2022.

The re-election of Metsolas, for a term of two and a half years, is followed by the procedure for the election of the 14 vice-presidents of the European Parliament. For the first time after a full 22 years, Greece is left without a vice president, while in the previous parliamentary term it had nominated Dimitris Papadimoulis and Eva Kailis. From now on, the next “bet” for a strengthened Greek representation in the Strasbourg seats will be the presidency of one of the committees of the European Parliament.

“We need strong leadership”

In the first statements to journalists, after her re-election, Roberta Metzola set as her goal “a strong European Parliament in a strong Europe”. As he mentioned, “I know we can make Europe better. But in order to do this, we must not be afraid of either discussion or change”. At the same time, the 45-year-old politician appeared determined to claim for the Parliament the right of legislative initiative, which is currently exercised exclusively by the Commission.

Responding to a Cypriot journalist’s question about a possible initiative by the EU or the European Parliament, as 50 years have passed since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Roberta Metsola spoke of a “sad anniversary” and referred to the first meetings of the political groups of the new European Parliament Wednesday, which, as he mentioned, are expected to deal with the issue.

The Metsola election can perhaps be considered a first indication that the “package deal” for the distribution of top positions in Brussels is being adhered to. According to her, the EPP ensures the presidency of the European Parliament with Roberta Metsola, but also that of the European Commission with Ursula von der Leyen. The vote for the Commission is expected on Thursday at noon in Strasbourg, but the result is not taken for granted. And this is because, firstly, the voting will be secret and, secondly, it will be “one and out”, with no next round to elect a president with a smaller majority.

No surprises at the premiere

Otherwise, the “premiere” in Strasbourg held no surprises. The start of the work of the new Plenary was accompanied, as always, by the anthem of Europe, “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, without surprises from the Euro-skeptic block. A cheerful Jordan Bardela, head of the new far-right political group “Patriots for Europe”, was shaking hands in the front row of the seats of the European Parliament. The continuation is awaited with interest.