country leaders and European institutions yielded tribute al Italian social democrat David Sassoli, president of the European Parliament, died this Tuesday at 65 years of age.
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Italian politician David Sassoli, president of the European Parliament, dies
David Sassoli died on January 11 at 1:15 am at the CRO (Oncology Reference Center) in Aviano, where he had been hospitalized (since late December), “his spokesman, Roberto Cuillo, announced on Twitter.
The @EP_President David Sassoli passed away at 1.15 am on 11 January at the CRO in Aviano( PN), Italy, where he was hospitalized. The date and place of the funeral will be communicated in the next few hours.
– RobertoCuillo (@robertocuillo) January 11, 2022
The spokesperson added that the date and place of the funeral will be communicated in the next few hours.
On Monday followingnoon, Cuillo’s team had announced that Sassoli had been hospitalized in Italy since December 26, due to a “dysfunction of his immune system.”
Sassoli, who had overcome leukemia last year, was hospitalized once more in the fall for pneumonia, which kept him away from parliamentary activity for several weeks.
Sincere and passionate European, his human warmth, his generosity, his kindness and his smile are already missing us “, reacted on Tuesday the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said on Twitter that she was “extremely saddened” by Sassoli’s death.
I am extremely saddened by the loss of a great European and a proud Italian, an attentive journalist, an extraordinary President of the European Parliament and, above all, a friend, “said Von der Leyen.
It is a sad day for Europe.
Today our Union is losing a convinced pro-European, a democratic sinchero, and a good man.
Today is a sad day for Europe.
Our Union loses a passionate European, a sincere democrat, and a good man. https://t.co/JzeVTUAlu3
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 11, 2022
Von der Leyen determined that the EU flags were hoisted at half mast in all the buildings of the European institutions on Tuesday.
“Champion” of democracy
Conservative Maltese Euro-legislator Robert Metsola, considered Sassoli’s most likely successor at the helm of the European Parliament, said she was “heartbroken.”
Europe has lost a leader, I have lost a friend, and democracy has lost a champion, “Metsola noted on Twitter.
For his part, the head of the Italian government, Mario Draghi, referred to Sassoli as “a symbol of balance, humanity and generosity.”
In turn, a message to the widow of Sassoli on behalf of Pope Francis recalled “a believer moved by hope and charity, a competent and esteemed journalist, and a man of institutions.”
Olaf Scholz, the new head of the German government, pointed out that “Europe has lost a compromised speaker of Parliament, Italy was left without a wise politician and Germany lost a friend.”
The leader of the government of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, stressed that Sassoli was a “fervent defender of the values and principles” of Europe.
One step aside
The mandate of this former journalist and TV news presenter in Italy began in 2019 and expired this month in the middle of the five-year European legislature.
The election of his successor was scheduled for January 18.
In mid-December, the Social Democrats (the second largest parliamentary force) announced that they were renouncing to present a candidate, opening the door to the right-wing candidate, the Maltese Metsola, current first vice president of the institution.
A European deputy since 2009, Sassoli was elected in July 2019 as president of the chamber following an agreement to distribute the presidency of the main positions of responsibility of the European Union among the three major formations.
By virtue of this pact, the right won the presidency of the European Commission with Von der Leyen, the center liberals were left with the leadership of the European Council, with Charles Michel, and the Social Democrats with Parliament.
His mandate was marked by the health crisis that has forced the European Parliament, the only directly elected community institution, to work remotely.
During this time, Sassoli gave up the empty premises of the Parliament in Strasbourg and Brussels for the preparation of meals for people in need and the installation of a testing center for covid-19.
© Provided by Excelsior
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