<h6><strong>Ane Barcos</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Spanish MEP Dolors Montserrat was elected this Wednesday as the new Secretary General of the European People's Party (EPP) during the congress held in Valencia, receiving the support of 93% of the delegates. In her investiture speech, Montserrat thanked EPP President Manfred Weber for his confidence, to whom she pledged loyalty, and reaffirmed her commitment to working from Europe to bring Alberto Núñez Feijóo to the presidency of the Spanish government.</strong></h4> The proposal to appoint Montserrat, the current spokesperson for the People's Party in the European Parliament, was proposed by Weber on April 9 and ratified this week by the party at its congress. This endorsement reinforces the EPP's confidence in the Spanish leader. In her first speech as Secretary General, Montserrat reiterated her gratitude to Weber and emphasized the importance of collaboration between Spain and Germany for the future of the party: "Spanish-German collaboration will be essential for the future of the EPP in Europe," she stated. During her speech, the MEP expressed her strong support for Alberto Núñez Feijóo as leader of the Popular Party and future Prime Minister. "Today, the entire Spanish and European Popular Party is here to tell you that we are by your side, that you have our full support, and that we will continue working with you every day so that you can be the next Prime Minister of Spain," Montserrat affirmed. She also emphasized that, with Feijóo at the helm, Spain could regain its international prestige and Europe would gain a solid leader and a reliable partner in the Council of the European Union. <h5><strong>Tribute to the victims of the DANA</strong></h5> Montserrat took advantage of her speech to remember the victims of the DANA, which severely affected the Valencian Community six months ago. From the Congress stage, she wished to pay tribute to those who lost their lives, their families, and the emergency teams who gave their all to save others. “Just a few months ago, Valencia experienced one of the most tragic episodes in its recent history. Today, from this wounded but courageous region, I want to begin by paying tribute to the victims, their families, and those who risked their lives to save others,” she declared. She also emphasized that Europe's commitment to the affected areas remains: “We don't just bring words, but rather a commitment that Europe does not forget, does not abandon, and leaves no one behind.” In her speech, Montserrat defended a firm vision of Europe as a bastion of freedom and shared values. She affirmed that “Europe will only exist if it remains free” and defined freedom not only as an individual right, but as a “collective architecture” based on fundamental pillars such as reason, law, and human dignity. <h5><strong>A free, strong, and united Europe against internal and external threats</strong></h5> The new EPP Secretary General warned about the internal and external threats facing Europe. She denounced disinformation campaigns, energy blackmail, and physical attacks driven from outside the continent, as well as internal attacks against European values by those who "relativize our principles, exploit fear, and believe that weakening Europe is a way to vent their frustrations." Montserrat was forceful: "European freedom is threatened, and we will not allow it." She also stressed the need to strengthen the European economy, reduce bureaucracy, and defend those who create jobs and wealth: "We will defend a competitive, strong, and free economy because there is no freedom without jobs, nor justice without opportunity." Along these lines, she called for a response to the aspirations of the new generations: "Our young people are not asking us for empty rhetoric; they are asking us for a future." She also reiterated the EPP's firm support for Ukraine: "Defending their freedoms is defending ours." In this sense, she advocated for a European Defense Union that acts autonomously but in coordination with NATO, since "freedom is protected by values, yes, but also by means." Montserrat concluded her speech with an ambitious and hopeful message for the future of Europe: "Europe cannot be a continent to be forgotten; it must be a place where we can still dream." She closed her speech with cries of: "Long live the European People's Party, long live Spain, and long live Europe!" <h5><strong>Renewal of the EPP</strong></h5> The EPP Congress also served to ratify the reelection of Manfred Weber as president of the party for a second term, with 502 votes in favor out of a total of 563 valid votes. During the session, other key party positions were elected. François-Xavier Bellamy was appointed the new treasurer of the EPP, achieving 91% support. The ten EPP vice-presidents elected at the congress are Petteri Orpo, Antonio Tajani, David McAllister, Siegfried Muresan, Andrzej Halicki, Dubravka Suica, Magnus Brunner, Kostis Hatzidakis, Mairead McGuinness and Paulo Rangel.
