Momentum is building behind a third term for conservative European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, a prospect set to disrupt an informal agreement among centrist political forces and to put the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) on the back foot.
The Maltese politician from the European People's Party (EPP), who is currently serving her second term as president, is clearly the frontrunner, despite not having announced whether she will seek another mandate.
This scenario is concerning for the centre-left S&D group, which should be entitled to the presidency in the second half of the legislature but lacks the political clout to push through its own candidate.
“We should not accept Metsola, and we will not do it. But it seems to me quite obvious it will be her again,” a Socialist MEP told Euronews, speaking on condition of anonymity and summarising the mood among fellow lawmakers.
While negotiations over the presidency will only get into full swing after the summer break, discussions within the groups have already begun, and the Socialists appear boxed into an uneven contest, unable to put forward a credible challenger.
