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.