It has been reported that some journalists had been waiting hours to question the two leaders, only to be told they could only listen to the pair as the latter repeated their well-rehearsed press statements.

In response to this decision, journalists walked out of the press conference.

European Parliament president  with a majority of 458 votes out of 690 cast in the remote secret vote. 309 votes are needed for an absolute majority. The other candidates in the running were Alice Bah Kuhnke (101) and Sira Rego (57).

Metsola will lead the EU parliament in the second half of the current legislative term, until a new parliament is constituted following the 2024 European Elections. The Maltese MEP represents the centre-right European People’s Party, the parliament’s largest group.

France took over the presidency of the council of the EU on 1 January 2022 and its term ends on 30 June.

Macron has been clear that he will focus on accelerating the EU’s sovereign agenda which has been in full swing for the last four years on: economic matters with shared debt; ecological matters with carbon neutrality for 2050; defence with the first common military budget; and also social matters with the revision of the posted workers directive.

Luxembourg will have to wait until 2029 to take over this role.