Roberta Metsola

Roberta Metsola is a Maltese politician who has served as the President of the European Parliament since January 2022, the first person from Malta and the youngest ever to hold the office. A member of the Partit Nazzjonalista and the European People's Party, she was first elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2013. Metsola previously held the role of First Vice-President of the European Parliament under President David Sassoli.

Early life and education

Roberta Metsola was born in St. Julian's, Malta, and attended the University of Malta, where she graduated with a degree in Law. She furthered her studies at the College of Europe in Bruges, an institution known for its focus on European studies. During her academic career, Metsola was actively involved in student politics, serving as the president of the European Democrat Students and as a member of the executive of the Youth of the European People's Party. Her early professional work included roles as a legal advisor within the Malta Permanent Representation to the European Union and at the European Commission.

Political career

Metsola's political career began in earnest when she contested the 2009 European Parliament election for the Partit Nazzjonalista, though she was not initially elected. She entered the European Parliament in April 2013, filling the seat vacated by Simon Busuttil following his election as leader of the Partit Nazzjonalista. She was subsequently re-elected in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Within the European Parliament, she served on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Petitions, becoming a leading figure on issues of migration, rule of law, and fundamental rights. In November 2020, she was elected as First Vice-President of the European Parliament.

Presidency of the European Parliament

Following the death of President David Sassoli, Metsola was elected as President of the European Parliament on 18 January 2022, with broad support from the European People's Party, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, and Renew Europe groups. Her presidency began amid significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. She has been a vocal advocate for Ukraine, visiting Kyiv and strongly supporting the country's candidacy for EU membership. Metsola has also emphasized the importance of the Conference on the Future of Europe and has worked to strengthen the role of the European Parliament within the institutions of the European Union.

Political positions and views

Metsola is considered a centrist and a pro-European figure. She has taken strong stances on defending European values, including the rule of law, particularly in relation to Poland and Hungary. While personally holding conservative views on issues like abortion, she has committed to representing the full spectrum of the Parliament's positions. Her key policy focuses have included migration reform, digital transformation, and climate change action in line with the European Green Deal. She is a firm supporter of transatlantic cooperation and the NATO alliance.

Personal life

Roberta Metsola is married to Finnish businessman Ukko Metsola, and the couple has four sons. She is fluent in Maltese, English, Italian, and French. In her limited spare time, she is known to be an avid reader and follows football, supporting the Maltese national team and Benfica. Her appointment as President was widely celebrated in Malta as a historic moment for the small member state.

Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Presidents of the European Parliament Category:Maltese Members of the European Parliament Category:People from St. Julian's Category:Alumni of the College of Europe Category:University of Malta alumni