European Parliament: Ceremony in memory of President Sassoli – ‘Your struggle for democracy will live on’

MEPs on Monday commemorated the late Parliament Speaker David Maria Sassoli in a ceremony during a plenary session in Strasbourg.

Announcing the start of the ceremony, caretaker Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola said: “Europe has lost a leader, democracy has lost a defender, and we have all lost a friend who has always known how to translate the values ​​he believed into into action.” He emphasized the importance of President Sassoli’s efforts to keep Parliament active during the most critical months of the pandemic and to enable us to adopt the important legislative packages that Europe and its citizens needed.

“This parliamentary assembly will honor your work and your heritage,” she concluded. Metsola.

Former Italian Prime Minister and MEP Enrico Letta, a close friend of President Sassoli, said at his funeral that for David Sassoli “Europe was not just instructions, institutions and acronyms. No. Europe was primarily its people, its souls “Her heart. Just as she kept the doors of this Parliament open, David was trying to open doors for citizens across our continent.”

“The common denominator of all his struggles is clear: the European Union is a union of values,” Letta said, adding that “your struggle for democracy, freedom and the rule of law has inspired us all. […] We will continue your work. Your battles will continue to be our battles. “We will never forget you,” he said.

“David (…) you inspire respect with naturalness, a respect that goes far beyond your office,” said European Council President Charles Michel. President Michel praised David Sassoli’s “warm, authentic, smiling” personality, who he said was solid when needed. “David Sassoli” was a political leader and a proud European, “said President Michel. He also praised David Sassoli’s ideals of social justice and solidarity, which were at the heart of his political identity.

The President of France and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union, Emmanuel Macron, hailed “a man of rare kindness, whose smile, vision and ideals were big enough for an entire continent”. He emphasized the “courage and ambition” shown by David Sassoli throughout the pandemic, during which he extended to Europe “friendship and exemplary conduct” through his actions as Parliament Speaker. He was a “leader but also a peacemaker” in Parliament’s Circle, as “he was confronted with ideas, never with people”, said President Macron.

Speeches by the leaders of the EP political groups

Following the speech of President Macron, the leaders of the EP political groups spoke. Referring to the virtues of President David Sassoli, they said that he was characterized by integrity, dignity and kindness, and that he was always willing and able to reach compromises and bridge gaps, leading Parliament with insight, determination and ability in difficult and difficult times.

Iratxe García Pérez, leader of the Socialist Group in Parliament, of which President Sassoli was a member, said: “David Sassoli was a good man, dedicated, an enthusiastic advocate of Europe, capable of dialogue and at the same time consistent in values. “The best way to honor him is to continue his work: to build a social Europe and a people-centered immigration policy.”

This was followed by speeches by Manfred Weber (EPP, Germany), Dacian Cioloş (Renew, Romania), Ska Keller (Greens, Germany), Marco Zanni (ID, Italy), Raffaele Fitto (Conservatives, Italy) and Martin Schirdewan (Left, Germany).

The ceremony was attended by President Sassoli’s wife and children. Several high-ranking public figures also took part, including some of the highest political figures in EU countries and institutions, including the Prime Ministers of Italy Mario Draghi, Luxembourg Xavier Bettel, Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Croatia Andrej P Malta Robert Abela. Several Speakers of the EU National Parliaments also participated.

At the beginning of the ceremony, one was shown in Hemikykli short video entitled “David Maria Sassoli, President of the European Parliament”.