Not only was Metsola the first Maltese politician elected to land the top job but she also became the youngest person elected to the role of president in the European Parliament’s 63-year history.

She had previously spent ten years as a PN MEP and just over a year as European Parliament vice-president.

“People look to us to defend our values… we must burst through the Strasbourg and Brussels bubbles to bring its ideas to different towns and villages across Europe,” she said in her inaugural speech.

2. Strong response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Just over a month after Metsola’s election, Europe was rocked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. From the offset, Metsola took a strong stance against the invasion, condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin for his decision, pushing for EU sanctions against Russia and pledging to stand by Ukraine.

She also paid a surprise visit to Kyiv in April 2022, becoming the first leader of a European institution to visit Ukraine since the war broke out. During the visit, Metsola met Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and offered the European Parliament’s “full support” for his nation’s aspirations of EU accession.

“Putin’s criminal invasion of your country puts Russia in direct confrontation with Europe, the international community and the rules-based world order, and we won’t let him do it unchallenged,” she said in a speech to the Ukrainian people.

Responding to this visit and Metsola’s support, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy bestowed the EP President with a prestigious Ukrainian civil honour, the Order of Princess Olga.

3. Unheeded warnings against trusting “autocratic regimes”

A Lovin Malta interview with Metsola in May uncovered the President’s concerns about the pitfalls of going “from one unreliable partner to another” in terms of Europe’s energy import reliance.

A desire to pivot away from reliance upon Russian fossil fuels prompted some to consider Azerbaijan as an alternative but Metsola warned against depending on any “autocratic regime” for energy.

These warnings went unheeded by the European Commission, which in July approved the signature of a major gas deal with Azerbaijan.

EC President, Ursula Von Der Leyen’s stance on Azerbaijan directly contradicted Metsola’s and she referred to Azerbaijan as a “key partner” and “reliable energy supplier.”

4. 2022 Copenhagen Democracy Summit

At the 2022 Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Metsola reaffirmed the European Parliament’s commitment to facilitating Ukraine’s accession to “the European project” as she described the nation as already being a part of “the European family.”

It was there that Metsola met with several notable representatives of global powers, such as the 44th U.S. President, Barack Obama, Lithuanian President Ingrida Šimonytė, and once again, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In a time of embattled democracies, Metsola took part in important discussions which must be had in order to promote the restoration and preservation of democratic order around the world.

5. Qatargate and Metsola’s pledge for reforms

Towards the end of 2022, the European Parliament was rocked by allegations that Qatar and Morocco had paid money to EU politicians in return for influence.

The scandal hit close to home for Metsola, with one of her 14 Vice-Presidents, Greece’s Eva Kaili arrested by Belgium’s police and charged with corruption and money laundering.

In the first plenary session of the year, Metsola pledged “more transparency” and “accountability” as well as higher scrutiny for MEPs “representing third countries and their interests.”

The extent to which these reforms will be successfully implemented remains in question. At the beginning of Metsola’s second year as EP President, she faces growing pressure to ensure that no more MEP corruption will be possible in the future.

6. Abortion stance pivot and a clash With Rosianne Cutajar

The European Parliament has representatives from all EU member states, wherein citizens of just two – Malta and Poland – do not have access to legal abortion.

Metsola consistently promoted anti-abortion resolutions during her tenure as an MEP, but upon her ascension to President, she committed herself to adopting the Parliament’s official stance, recognising safe access to abortion as a human right.

Following Andrea Prudente’s traumatic experience in Malta, Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar declared Metsola a “hypocrite” for ignoring the case while publicly condemning the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade.

Metsola responded to Cutajar’s accusations by stating that in her capacity as a Maltese MP, Cutajar could have more direct impact on reversing or reforming Malta’s “restrictive abortion laws” than could the EP President.

How do you assess Metsola’s tenure so far?