Jan 18, 2017
458
by Beda Romano
After nearly 40 years, the presidency of the European Parliament returns to Italy. Antonio Tajani, of the European People's Party, will lead the parliamentary assembly for the next two and a half years. His election arrived last night, at the end of a chaotic day, after four round of votes and amid great uncertainty. Political parties voted amid deep divisions, which still threaten today the stability of the European Commission.
"It was a democratic process," Tajani said last night in the Strasbourg parliament after his election. "I will be president for everybody, I will respect all members of Parliament, all groups. You can count on my presence," he said.