The Diplomat
The Spanish government and political parties yesterday expressed their sorrow at the death of European Parliament President David Sassoli, and the EU representation in Madrid suspended yesterday’s planned event of the handover of the EU Council Presidency from Slovenia to France as a sign of mourning.
“What sad news the passing of President Sassoli, a progressive friend, a great defender of European values, who in recent years worked steadfastly for a more united and social EU during the pandemic,” said the President of Government, Pedro Sánchez, on his Twitter account. “Tutto il mio affetto per la famiglia e gli amici di David,” he concluded, in Italian.
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, said that “a great pro-European, David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, has gone. DEP”, and the representation of Spain in the EU wrote on the same social network: “Today we say sorry farewell to a great president of the European Parliament. Let us honor the work and the pro-European legacy of David Sassoli. All our affection for his family and friends.”
The President of the Congress, Meritxell Batet, expressed her “deep sadness for the death of David Sassoli, a convinced Europeanist, of deep democratic values, a defender of consensus and, above all, a good friend”, while the President of the Senate, Ander Gil, regretted the “terrible news of the death of David Sassoli (…), a great person and a politician of firm principles who always fought for a strong and united Europe”.
As far as the political parties are concerned, the leader of the PP, Pablo Casado, expressed his “deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament”, whose death is “sad news and a loss for Europeans and politics”.
For her part, the Secretary General of Podemos and Minister for Social Rights and Agenda 2030, Ione Belarra, said that “the loss of the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, saddens all of us who have believed that a Europe based on social rights and solidarity is possible.” Likewise, the leader of Ciudadanos, Inés Arrimadas, lamented the death of Sassoli, “Italian social democrat and convinced Europeanist.” “My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones on behalf of the Spanish liberals,” she added.
Vox’s first vice president of Political Action and head of the party’s delegation to the European Parliament, Jorge Buxadé, wrote on Twitter : “Rest in peace, David Sassoli. My prayer for the eternal rest of your soul. Death is not the end.” For his part, MEP Hermann Tertsch limited himself to a terse “rest in peace”. Sassoli had had a clash with Tertsch, whom he warned that “there is no room for the glorification of any dictatorship” after the latter wrote an e-mail in defense of “the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen”.
Reactions in the EU
Meanwhile, the EU flag flew at half-mast at the European Parliament buildings, including the headquarters of the European Institutions in Spain, where the flag-raising event scheduled for yesterday on the occasion of the start of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2022 was finally suspended. The event was to be attended by Pascual Navarro, Secretary of State for the European Union; Jean-Michel Casa, French Ambassador to Spain; Robert Krmelj, Slovenian Ambassador to Spain; María Ángeles Benítez Salas, Director of the European Commission Representation in Spain; and María Andrés, Director of the European Parliament Office in Spain.
On the other hand, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, declared, in English and Italian, that yesterday was “a sad day for Europe.” “Our Union loses a passionate European, a sincere democrat and a good man,” she continued. “A champion of justice and solidarity, and a dear friend,” added Von der Leyen, who dedicated a remembrance to Sassoli’s wife, Alessandra, and his children, Giulio and Livia.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said he was “saddened and moved” by the death of Sassoli, a “sincere and passionate European.” “We are already missing his human warmth, his generosity, his cordiality and his smile,” he added. For his part, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Josep Borrell, declared that “we lose a politician with values but, above all, a friend, a man who dedicated his life to the service of others, first in journalism and then in the institutions as President of the European Parliament.”
On the other hand, the office of the European Parliament in Spain announced that the European Parliament will pay tribute to Sassoli next Monday, on the occasion of the opening of the plenary session in Strasbourg, in the presence of former MEP and former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta. The funeral chapel will be set up tomorrow in Rome, in the Sala della Protomoteca del Campidoglio, and the funeral will be held on Friday in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
As provided for in the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, in the days remaining until the election of the new president, the presidency of the House will fall to the first vice-president, Roberta Metsola. As planned before the sudden death of President Sassoli, the election of the President for the second half of the legislature will take place next Tuesday during the plenary session in Strasbourg. This will be followed by the election of the vice-presidents and quaestors.
