Centre-left Democratic Party (PD)
MEP David Sassoli was elected president of the European
Parliament on the second ballot Wednesday, garnering 345 votes,
outgoing President Antonio Tajani said.
The required majority was 334.
"It's a great emotion, and I thank Tajani" he said.
Europe must recover the spirit of its founding fathers,
Sassoli said in his maiden address.
It must "combine growth, social protection and a respect for
the environment", he said.
The EU must also "relaunch sustainable investments", he said.
The centre-left Democratic Party (PD) MEP underscored his
commitment towards boosting gender parity and encouraging "a
great role of women at the top of the economy, politics and
society".
Nationalism produces destructive conflicts, Sassoli went on.
"We are not an accident of history but the children and
grandchildren of those who succeeded in finding the antidote to
the nationalist degeneration that poisoned our history," he
said.
"If we are European it is also because we are in love with
our countries.
"But nationalism that becomes an ideology and idolatry
produces viruses that spur instincts of superiority and produce
destructive conflicts".
The European Council has the "moral duty" to discuss the
European Parliament's proposed reform of the Dublin Rule on
migrants because "you know how much tension is created around
the non-management of the migratory issue," Sassoli said.
"Citizens are asking where the EU is" on the issue, he said.
"Europe must equip itself and the governments must transfer a
little power to Europe, they must collaborate more".
The EP's doors would be "ever more open" to NGOs, he added.
"I hope Italy is happy today," he said about his election.
President Sergio Mattarella sent a message to Sassoli saying
"the high responsibility which has been entrusted in you by the
parliamentarians of the countries of the Union represents a mark
of the broad confidence resting in your person and a recognition
for your constant and fruitful work in European institutions".
Euroskeptic and anti-migrant League party leader Matteo
Salvini, the deputy premier and interior minister, said "I hope
he's balanced even though Sassoli spoke of a health cordon
against the League and the populists, which doesn't exactly seem
to be the most democratic approach for a president".
Sassoli, 63, a former RAI State broadcaster journalist, was
one of the Strasbourg assembly's vice presidents.
"I'm standing because I believe that Europe will be stronger
only with a European Parliament able to play a more important
role," he told the assembly ahead of the vote on the new
president to replace centre-right Forza Italia (FI) President
Tajani.
"We must all, whatever our views, be committed to building
the home of European democracy and this parliament must be the
home of European democracy".
Sassoli was backed by the European Socialist caucus.
The other candidates were Ska Keller (Greens), Jan
Zahradil (Conservatives ECR) and Sira Rego (Left GUE).
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