Europeans mourn the death of EP President Sassoli

The President of the The EU’s directly elected legislative body comprised of 705 members. It is involved in policymaking but it does not have the power to propose new legislation. European Parliament David Sassoli, aged 65, died early Tuesday morning on 11 January 2022 after hospitalisation for a lung infection.

His spokesperson Roberto Cuillo announced Sassoli’s death on twitter:

The @EP_President David Sassoli passed away at 1.15 am on 11 January at the CRO in Aviano( PN), Italy, where he was hospitalized. The date and place of the funeral will be communicated in the next few hours.

— RobertoCuillo (@robertocuillo) January 11, 2022

Sassoli had been admitted to hospital on 26 December 2021 following a series of illnesses and hospitalisations in the previous months.

The heads of the other European institutions expressed their condolences on twitter. Commission President von der Leyen wrote:

I am deeply saddened by the terrible loss of a great European & proud Italian.

David Sassoli was a compassionate journalist, an outstanding President of the European Parliament and, first & foremost, a dear friend.

My thoughts are with his family.

Riposa in pace, caro David!

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 11, 2022

European An institution representing the Member States’ interests. Either comprised of the heads of government (European Council) or more frequently the ministers (Council of the EU) meeting in different constellations depending on the policy area. Involved in policy-making, often together with the European Parliament. Council President Charles Michel said:

Mi sento triste e commosso dopo la notizia della scomparsa di @EP_President @DavidSassoli

Europeo sincero e appassionato, ci manca già il suo calore umano, la sua generosità, la sua cordialità e il suo sorriso.

Sincere condoglianze alla sua famiglia e ai suoi cari.

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) January 11, 2022

The journalist-turned-politician was at the end of his term as President of the The EU’s directly elected legislative body comprised of 705 members. It is involved in policymaking but it does not have the power to propose new legislation. European Parliament, which started in 2019 after the European elections. Sassoli joined the The EU’s directly elected legislative body comprised of 705 members. It is involved in policymaking but it does not have the power to propose new legislation. European Parliament as an A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a representative in the European Parliament. MEP in 2009 for the Italian Social Democratic Partito Democratico. From 2014 to 2019, he acted as Vice President of the The EU’s directly elected legislative body comprised of 705 members. It is involved in policymaking but it does not have the power to propose new legislation. European Parliament before becoming President in 2019.

Sassoli started his career in journalism after studying political sciences. He worked for newspapers and news agencies before moving on to television becoming a news presenter at the Italian channels Rai Uno and Rai Due. Eventually, he became deputy director at TG1 in 2007.

Sassoli faced many challenges in his presidency. Most of his term was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic which also entailed the shift to working online, a particularly difficult task for a Parliament with 705 members. Nonetheless, Sassoli is applauded for his tireless work on the 2021-2027 budget, the European Green Deal, and his welcoming attitude towards migrants coming to Europe.