A Maltese politician is expected to head the European Parliament

 

 Roberta Mezzola will take over the presidency of the European Parliament (EP) on Tuesday, ending a campaign in which she introduced herself as a young but experienced woman leader who can inspire and build consensus within political divisions in Europe, writes the European edition of Politico.

Still, it took a last-minute effort for the 42-year-old Maltese politician to secure his election, as a group of socialist MEPs continued to fear that their newfound influence in Europe (for example, after the German election) ) will not be fairly represented by Mezzola and especially because of the position on abortion, which she does not support.

 Eventually, the road to her election was cleared on Monday afternoon after the Socialists were promised a number of prominent positions in exchange for Mezzola's support.

The deal strengthens Mezzola's rise through parliament, where she is already a well-known name as the first vice-president of the EP and interim leader of the body following the sudden death last week of incumbent President David Sasoli. Her rise was supported by the large center-right and conservative EP contingent, as well as many centrists.

"Mezzola is the only serious contender for the post," said a senior parliamentary official. "She is seen as a 'sure pair of hands.'"

 The result is that Mezzola will take control of the EU legislature for two and a half years at a delicate time - raised by the big conservative bloc but facing growing socialist and center-left groups in the run-up to the 2024 elections. Taking power after the death of the popular Sasoli will also create its own challenges.

It will focus on this dynamic as Parliament addresses some of its most contentious issues: reducing carbon emissions, digitizing the economy, strengthening the bloc's army and strengthening compliance with the rule of law in the EU.

 "The next two and a half years will be one of the most critical for the European Parliament as we emerge from a devastating pandemic," Metsola told reporters in November after the center-right group of the European People's Party (EPP), the largest in parliament, announced that he would support her candidacy. "It will fall on the constructive forces of this institution to plug the holes in our foundations."