European Parliament president vote a “grubby deal” – Carthy

MEPs in the European Parliament today voted for an Italian socialist MEP to be their new president.

David-Maria Sassoli is a former journalist who was first elected to the European Parliament in 2009. He won a majority of votes in a second ballot.  

The European People’s Party Group did not put forward a candidate for the presidency. That's because EU leaders yesterday agreed to nominate a German minister for the European Commission presidency. Ursula von der Leyen is a member of the CDU party which is part of the EPP Group.

The Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy says the votes were stitched up in a backroom deal between powerful EU leaders. 

Out words: European level

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