Speaking following the election of Antonio Tajani as the new president of the European Parliament, S&D Group president Gianni Pittella said: 

"I want to congratulate Antonio Tajani, the newly elected president of the European Parliament. I am confident he will interpret his new role with full respect for the equal rights and prerogatives of all groups and MEPs. 

"I sincerely want to thank the S&D Group for its full, united and fervent support, and all the colleagues from other groups that voted for me. It was a fantastic race, one which I am proud to have participated in. 

"It's been a long time since the EP president has been elected in a fully transparent and open competition without any pre-arranged deals. This is a strong sign of the democracy and vitality of this institution. 

"A new historic page has been turned. Today the political landscape in the European Parliament is dramatically changed with the birth of a new conservative block. We will constructively oppose this block by working, as of tomorrow, along with the other progressive forces. Europe needs an efficient and courageous Parliament, ready to face the challenges that lie ahead of us. Our objective, our political North Star, will always be the good of Europe and European citizens."

S&D press contact