11 January 2022

David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament, passed away last night.

An MEP since 2009, Vice-President of the Assembly from July 2014 to May 2019, David Sassoli had been elected President of the EU Parliament on 3 July 2019, at the start of his third term.

He had delivered his last speech titled "Europe must show allegiance to its citizens" at the European Council on 16 December, before the EU heads of state and government.
"We cannot go back to the pre-pandemic world. We need more democracy, more solidarity, more Europe", is the message that opens the home page of his website as President of the European Parliament.

Undersecretary Vincenzo Amendola thus recalls him in a post on Facebook: "David, my friend. You left us too soon, with immense pain for us to bear. Along the way you showed us we will continue to move forward, to build solidarity and freedom Europe,our destiny community, that common home of peace and prosperity to which you dedicated your life. Your big, bright smile will remain in our lives, in those of us who were blessed to know and love you. Goodbye David, and thank you for everything. We will never forget you and we will try to live up to your political and human lessons."