David Sassoli: new European Parliament President

Italian S&D Member of the European Parliament (MEP) David Sassoli has been elected as European Parliament President on 3 July, following two rounds of voting.

Sassoli (aged 63) received 345 out of 667 votes cast in the second ballot. He is a former TV journalist and has been an MEP since 2009.

In his statement before the start of the election procedure, Sassoli spoke of Parliament's responsability towards all the new voters that took part in the last European elections in May: “They have given us a mandate, because they believe in our institution, they believe in democracy and in free elections. We must not disappoint them. Throughout this coming legislature, we have to be in the vanguard, we have to be leading the necessary, and indeed vital, changes to make Europe stronger and modernise it”, he said.

MEPs also elected 14 Vice-Presidents, who can replace the President when needed

Source:European Parliament Press Room