Kylian Mbappe Officially Unveiled As Real Madrid Player

Jul 16 2024

Football global star Kylian Mbappe has been officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player, at a packed ceremony at Madrid’s stadium Santiago Bernabeu.

Los Blancos announced last month that the club had signed Mbappé to a five-year deal, ending the French superstar’s seven-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain.

“It’s an incredible day for me, incredible,” the forward told those inside the stadium. “Since I was a boy, I had only one dream: to play here. And to be here now means a lot to me.

“Because of that, I want to thank every madridista because, since years ago, you’ve given me a lot of affection, a lot of love – that goes directly to my heart. And so I want to say thank you to everyone to let me be here today.”

After his speech, Mbappé greeted fans in attendance, signing autographs and kicking footballs into the stands.

The unveiling with the highlight being Mbappe donning the no.9 shirt, came with a lot of comparisons to Ronaldo’s unveiling.

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Alex Agius Saliba Decides To Abstain From Voting For EP President

Jul 16 2024

Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba has announced on his Facebook, his decision to abstain from voting for the European Parliament Presidency, an election which fellow Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola went on to comfortably win.

He stated that this decision was consistent with everything that he has said in the leadup to this election and the MEP elections.

Saliba revealed that he could not give his support to Metsola due to a number of different principles which for him are crucial and that he felt that Metsola overall acted against in the past two and a half years as European Parliament President.

He also confirmed that he did not vote for Metsola’s competitor Irene Montero, despite being from the left leaning group Social Democrats like Saliba, due to different priorities such as abortion, which Montero aimed at making a right available in every member state including Malta.

He ended his post by announcing that he would explain his decision in more detail during a press conference with Maltese journalists in Strasbourg.

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Roberta Metsola Wins With Record Breaking Absolute Majority

Jul 16 2024

Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola has won a second consecutive term as European Parliament President with a record breaking absolute majority over her Leftist opponent Spanish MEP Irene Montero.

Metsola received a staggering 562 votes to her opponents total of 61. This means that out of a total of 623 casted votes, the Nationalist MEP received 90.2% of the total casted votes available.

This is yet another record breaking result for Metsola as this result is the highest percentage of a vote for a President of the European Parliament in history.

There were 76 votes which were blank and void such as the vote of Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba who decided to abstain from voting.

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Roberta Metsola Makes History As First Woman To Be Re-Elected As President Of European Parliament

Jul 16 2024

Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola has been re-elected as President of the European Parliament, making history once again. This significant achievement marks the first time a woman will serve two consecutive terms in this prestigious role, reinforcing Metsola’s legacy in European politics.

Since its establishment in 1952, the European Parliament has seen 33 Presidents, including iconic figures such as Paul Henri Spaak and Robert Schuman. Metsola, who first took office in January 2022, became the 33rd President and only the third woman to hold the position. Her predecessors, Simone Veil (1979) and Nicole Fontaine (1999), were both trailblazing Frenchwomen. As the first Maltese and the youngest President ever, Metsola has broken multiple barriers.

The election process for the European Parliament President is outlined in the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, specifically rules 14 to 16. The outgoing President, or one of the Vice-Presidents, oversees the election. Eight tellers, chosen by lot from among the MEPs, ensure the integrity of the process.

The 10th legislature of the European Parliament began its session today in Strasbourg, with the election of the President as the first item on the agenda. The session was opened by Metsola herself, who then handed over proceedings to Vice-President.

Today, after the ballots were counted, Roberta Metsola was re-elected, becoming the first female President to serve two consecutive terms and the second President overall to achieve this, following German Socialist Martin Schulz (2012-2017).

Upon her re-election, Metsola delivered a powerful address, emphasising her commitment to the values of the European Union and the challenges ahead. She reaffirmed her dedication to the Parliament’s role in shaping EU policies and representing the citizens of Europe.

As President, Metsola will continue to wield extensive executive and representative powers. Her role is pivotal in the EU institutional framework and on the international stage, reflecting the Parliament’s influence as a co-legislator and policy shaper.

Metsola’s re-election is a moment of immense pride for Malta, highlighting the country’s growing influence in European affairs. Her leadership promises continuity and stability for the Parliament as it navigates critical issues such as supporting Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression and addressing the EU’s internal and external challenges.

The European Parliament will also elect Vice-Presidents and Quaestors in this session, setting the stage for the next two-and-a-half years of legislative activity. The session will address key topics, including the election of the President of the European Commission and debates on critical policies and international relations.

#MaltaDaily