UPDATE – European Parliament President David Sassoli has died

UPDATED 1400

Media reports indicate that First Vice President Roberta Metsola is set to take Sassoli’s place as Acting President for the remainder of the term. The EP is set to elect a new President next week, with the Maltese PN MEP being the centre-right’s EPP candidate.

European Parliament President David Sassoli has died, his spokesperson Roberto Cuillo said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Sassoli, 65, passed away at 1.15 am on Jan. 11 in Italy, where he was hospitalised, Cuillo added.

The @EP_President David Sassoli passed away at 1.15 am on 11 January at the CRO in Aviano( PN), Italy, where he was hospitalized. The date and place of the funeral will be communicated in the next few hours.

— RobertoCuillo (@robertocuillo) January 11, 2022

Sassoli has been hospitalised in Italy since Dec. 26 due to a “serious complication” related to his immune system, his office had said on Monday.

European Parliament First VP and candidate for the post of European Parliament President, in a tweet, said that Europe has lost a leader and democracy had lost a champion.

I am heartbroken. Europe has lost a leader, I have a lost a friend, democracy has lost a champion.#DavidSassoli dedicated his life to making the world a better, fairer place.

His Parliament joins Alessandra, Giulio & Livia in mourning their loss. All my thoughts are with them https://t.co/kO8DsQIqSj

— Roberta Metsola (@RobertaMetsola) January 11, 2022

Malta’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Evarist Bartolo, paid tribute to Sassoli.