Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT) is elected as the new President of the European Parliament. She gives her acceptance speech in front of the MEPs and explains the priorities of her mandate.

plenary session

SILVA PEREIRA, Pedro (S&D, PT)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

election of the President of the European Parliament (T)

Election of the President of the European Parliament: Extracts from the election of Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), (extract from her presentation before the election) I am a woman from a small island in the middle of Europe Southern Sea. I know what it means to be the underdog. I know what it means to be pigeonholed. But I also know how important this is for people beyond this Chamber. I know what this means for every girl watching today.

Cutaways : applause after the presentation of Roberta METSOLA (as a candidate) before the election.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&amp;D, PT), Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to start the procedure of the election of the President of the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Pedro SILVA PEREIRA (S&amp;D, PT), The result of the votes for the post of President of the European Parliament is now available and the following are voting Members 690 votes blank and null 74 votes cast 616. Therefore, an absolute majority requires 309 votes. The votes were expressed as follows Roberto Pessoa 458 votes.

Cutaways : results of the vote with Roberta METSOLA, applause (13 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, New elected EP President, I want people to recapture a sense of belief and enthusiasm for our projects. I believe to make our shared space safer, fairer, more just and more equal.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, New elected EP President, Dear Europeans, in the next year, people across Europe will look to our institution for leadership and direction, while others will continue to test the limits of our democratic values and European principles. We must fight back against the anti-EU narrative that takes hold so easily and so quickly. Disinformation and misinformation further amplified during the pandemic fuels easy cynicism and cheap solutions of nationalism, authoritarianism, protectionism, isolationism. These are a false illusion, offering no solutions because Europe is about precisely the opposite. It is about all of us standing up for one another, bringing our people closer together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, New elected EP President, Europe is back. Europe is the future. Vive l'Europe.