The EU must make its citizens feel safe "wherever they come from, whoever they love", says European Parliament presidential candidate Roberta Metsola in the video she posted on social media a few days before the EP leadership election in Strasbourg.
"I believe that the time has come for a woman to take the leadership of the European Parliament," says the Maltese candidate of the European People's Party.
"I come from a family in which no one has been in politics. I became interested in politics as a student at university, where a fundamental question was raised: Do you want your country to become a member of the EU or do you want to stay out?"
I chose that I want to become a member of the EU. So I spent years campaigning. That sparked the love for Europe. I would like the EP to get past the bubble of Strasbourg and Brussels. All my travels from the position of Vice-President of the EP have been to capitals that were yearning to be seen more and have more access to the leadership of this EU and I think we can really do that in the strongest way possible, while at the same time setting the best example globally with our ideas, with our empowerment, with the possibility that anything can be done in the EU." I would like to look at every young girl growing up on our continent and be able to say: What these women and men did, I can also do. The last few years have been difficult," she stresses.
At the same time, she adds that "we have faced a pandemic that has completely shaken the way we work. Yes, there are emergency situations, there are health situations, but let's make sure that this EU represents the freedoms that we have fought so hard for so that we can guarantee them to our citizens."
"We are here to set the standards for everyone, so that citizens can be proud to be part of Europe, where citizens can feel safe no matter where they come from, no matter who they love."
"We are here to set the standards for everyone, so that citizens can be proud to be part of Europe, where citizens can feel safe no matter where they come from, no matter who they love. I would like to look at this Parliament as something empowering, something that citizens are proud to be part of, where we can be open, accessible, where we cross the political divide and find common solutions."
Roberta Metsola concludes by saying that "this post-pandemic era will offer us the opportunity to do just that and I believe that we should not give up these beautiful, common ideas. If you believe in something, don't give up."
Roberta Metsola was the first Vice-President of the EP and, following the loss of David Sassoli, is acting as interim President until the elections for the new leadership for the next half of the current legislative term.
More specifically, the procedure for the election of the President will take place on Tuesday, while the election of the 14 Vice-Presidents and five Deans will take place on the same day and on Wednesday.
Source: protothema.gr
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