Maltese conservative Metsola becomes third woman to head EU parliament

Newly-elected president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola delivers a speech during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France, January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Maltese lawmaker Roberta Metsola secured overwhelming support to become president of the European Parliament on Tuesday, making her the first woman to hold the post for 20 years.

She succeeds Italian socialist David Sassoli https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-parliament-president-sassoli-has-died-spokesperson-2022-01-11, who died this month, in presiding over the 705-member parliament, which adopts and amends EU legislative proposals and decides on the bloc's budget.