Roberta Metsola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roberta Metsola
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Official portrait, 2022
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| President of the European Parliament | |
| Assumed office 18 January 2022 Acting: 11–18 January 2022 |
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| Vice President | Othmar Karas (2022–2024 Sabine Verheyen (since 2024) |
| Preceded by | David Sassoli |
| First Vice-President of the European Parliament | |
| In office 12 November 2020 – 18 January 2022 |
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| President | David Sassoli |
| Preceded by | Mairead McGuinness |
| Succeeded by | Othmar Karas |
| Member of the European Parliament for Malta |
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| Assumed office 24 April 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Simon Busuttil |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Roberta Tedesco Triccas
18 January 1979 St. Julian's, Malta |
| Political party | Nationalist Party |
| Other political affiliations |
European People's Party |
| Spouse |
Ukko Metsola
(m. 2005) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Malta College of Europe |
Roberta Metsola (born 18 January 1979) is a politician from Malta. She has been the President of the European Parliament since January 2022. She is a member of Malta's Nationalist Party and the European People's Party.
Metsola was first chosen as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 2013. She became the First Vice-President of the European Parliament in November 2020. After the death of the previous president, David Sassoli, Metsola was elected President of the European Parliament on 18 January 2022. She became the youngest president ever. She was also the first person from Malta and the first woman since 2002 to hold this important job.
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Early Life and Education
Roberta Metsola grew up in Gżira, Malta, with her parents and two sisters. Her family comes from Swieqi, near St. Julian's. She went to St Joseph School in Sliema and St Aloysius' College.
She studied law at the University of Malta, graduating in 2003. She also earned a diploma in European studies from the College of Europe in Bruges in 2004.
In 2005, she married Ukko Metsola from Finland. They have four sons. In 2009, they both ran for the European Parliament elections. They were the first married couple to run in the same election from two different countries.
Early Political Career
Roberta Metsola was active in Malta's Nationalist Party from a young age. She worked with student and youth groups like the SDM and the National Youth Council. She also held positions in the European Democrat Students and the European Youth Forum.
In 2002, at 23, she was a vice-president of the Youth Convention on the Future of Europe. The next year, she strongly supported Malta joining the European Union. After this, Malta's Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi, encouraged her to run for the European Parliament in 2004. She was not elected then.
From 2004 to 2012, she worked for Malta's team in Brussels that deals with the EU. She helped with important talks, like those for the Lisbon Treaty. She also worked on setting up the European Asylum Support Office in Malta. She ran for the European Parliament again in 2009 but was not elected.
Becoming a Member of the European Parliament
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On 24 April 2013, Roberta Metsola won an election to fill a vacant seat. She became one of Malta's first female Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). In the European Parliament, she is part of the European People's Party Group.
After being re-elected in 2014, Metsola became a vice-chair of the Committee on Petitions. She also served on other committees and groups, including one focused on children's rights. She was re-elected again in 2019.
Metsola worked on important laws and reports. In 2019, she was the Parliament's main reporter on the European Border and Coastguard Regulation. She also helped write a report in 2016 about the European migrant crisis. This report aimed to create a clear plan for how EU countries should handle people seeking safety.
In November 2020, Metsola was elected as the First Vice-President of the European Parliament. She was the first MEP from Malta to become a vice-president.
President of the European Parliament
In November 2021, Metsola was chosen to be the candidate for President of the European Parliament. The previous president, David Sassoli, passed away in January 2022, shortly before his term ended. Metsola then became the acting president.
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On 18 January 2022, her 43rd birthday, Metsola was elected President of the European Parliament. She won in the first round of voting with many votes. She became the youngest president ever, the first Maltese person, and only the third woman to hold this role. After concerns about integrity were raised in the Parliament, Metsola quickly stated that the Parliament would take action to address them.
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On 21 May 2023, Metsola took part in a large pro-European rally in Moldova. She gave a speech, saying, "Europe is Moldova! Moldova is Europe!" She believes the European Parliament should have more power. On 16 July 2024, Roberta Metsola was re-elected President of the European Parliament. She received the highest number of votes ever for a candidate in the history of the institution.
Honours
Ukraine
Recipient of the First Class of the Order of Princess Olga
United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus
- Cross of Good Neighbourhood
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2022
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Metsola asking a question in 2019 hearings for the von der Leyen Commission
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Metsola with French President Emmanuel Macron at the European Parliament on 19 January 2022
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Metsola speaking in a memorial ceremony for David Sassoli in the European Parliament in January 2022
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Metsola with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the European Parliament on 26 January 2023
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Metsola meets President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the European Parliament on 9 February 2023
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Metsola with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the European Parliament on 20 October 2023
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Metsola with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid, 1 March 2024
See also
In Spanish: Roberta Metsola para niños
