Winning The Position Period Of The Two Heads Of The European Parliament, Roberta Metsola: Polarization Causes Confrontative Politics

Roberta Metsola. (Facebook Roberta Metsola)

JAKARTA - Roberta Metsola was re-elected as Head of the European Parliament, after winning the election by setting a record high on Tuesday, raising more inclusive politics to combat polarization.

About 562 EU lawmakers from 623 who took part in the vote voted for themselves, the biggest margin of victory ever for a president of the European Parliament.

"Polarization in our society has led to more confrontational politics, even political violence," Metsola, 45, told the assembly.

"We need to move beyond the zero-sum mindset that has excluded people, which keeps people away."

This member of the European People's Party of Malta became the first woman to head the EU assembly, after winning elections in 2022.

He later emerged as a strong supporter of Ukraine in his war with Russia and his efforts to join the European Union.

Metsola wants the European Parliament to remain a strong supporter of Ukraine, the rule of law and women's rights, while preparing to add new countries to the EU.

He is the first leader of the European Union agency to visit Kyiv after the Russian invasion in February 2022.

"I really appreciate President Metsola's personal involvement in supporting Ukraine, as well as his firm commitment to protecting people and upholding our European way of life," Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelensky tweeted in his congratulations on social media X.

In his first term, Metsola received praise from lawmakers for lifting the image of Parliament.

Several EU officials said they appreciated Metsola's ability to unite centrist parties as a bulwark of defense in the assembly after the far right received a major win in European elections last month.

The mother of four has also tried to improve Parliament's reputation after the bribery scandal to lobby Qatargate, proposing tougher rules regarding parliamentarian financial declarations and contacts with lobbyists, although activists say the reforms are not yet fully enforced.

It is known that the European Parliament, which consists of 720 people, is the only institution directly elected in the European Union, negotiates and adopts EU legislative proposals and approves the bloc budget.