European Parliament Commemorates Deceased President and Elects New One

The opening of the first plenary session of the European Parliament in 2022 in Strasbourg will not be a cheerful affair. Chairman David Sassoli passed away unexpectedly last week at 65 and will be commemorated with a special ceremony from 6-8 pm.

On behalf of the Dutch government, the new Minister Liesje Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade), who was still a Member of the European Parliament for the VVD until the beginning of this month, will be there.

Sassoli was already given a state funeral in Rome on Friday. In Strasbourg, many EU leaders are present at the commemoration, including French President Emmanuel Macron, former Prime Minister of Italy and former Member of the EU Parliament Enrico Letta, a close friend of Sassoli.

On Tuesday, the MEPs will choose their successor. This was already on the agenda before the death of the Italian Social Democrat because in July 2019, it was agreed that he would hand over the gavel halfway through the five-year term. It is a shock that he can no longer do this himself, although Sassoli has often been ill and absent in recent months. On several occasions, his role in the Chamber was performed by Vice-President Roberta Metsola, a Christian Democrat from Malta.

She has been nominated by her group as candidate chairman and has the best chance of getting the job, even though there are three hijackers on the coast. The vote is secret. The winner needs an absolute majority.