The President of the European Parliament, the Italian Social Democrat David Sassoli, died on the night of Monday January 10 to Tuesday January 11 in Italy. “David Sassoli died at 1:15 am at the Aviano Oncology Reference Center, where he was hospitalized” since the end of December, announced his spokesperson on Twitter. “The date and place of the funeral will be communicated in the coming hours”, he added.
Monday afternoon, his spokesperson announced the hospitalization of the 65-year-old elected official “due to a serious complication due to a dysfunction of the immune system”, as well as the cancellation of its official activities. Having suffered from leukemia in the past, David Sassoli had already been hospitalized in the fall of 2021 for pneumonia, which had kept him away from Parliament for several weeks.
“Sincere and passionate European, we already miss his human warmth, his generosity, his friendliness and his smile”, reacted the President of the European Council, the Belgian Charles Michel.
I feel sad and moved after the news of the disappearance of @EP_President @DavidSassoli
Sincere and passionate European, we already miss his human warmth, his generosity, his friendliness and his smile.
Sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
– Charles Michel (@eucopresident) January 11, 2022
“I am extremely saddened by this terrible loss of a great European and proud Italian, a caring journalist, extraordinary President of Parliament and above all a dear friend”, echoed the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
I am deeply saddened by the terrible loss of a great European & proud Italian.
David Sassoli was a compassionate journalist, an outstanding President of the European Parliament and, first & foremost, a dear friend.
My thoughts are with his family.
Riposa in pace, caro David!
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 11, 2022
The French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, for his part welcomed “a fighter for Europe, a sincere and courageous defender of democracy and the values of our Union”.
Deeply saddened by the passing of #DavidSassoli, President of the European Parliament. A fighter for Europe, a sincere and courageous defender of democracy and the values of our Union pic.twitter.com/VsOog3rSja
– Clement Beaune (@CBeaune) January 11, 2022
David Sassoli was born on May 30, 1956 in Florence, Tuscany, and began working with small newspapers and news agencies after studying political science. He was notably hired by the RAI in 1992, where he then became a news anchor on the First Public Channel. He entered politics in 2009, when the Italian Democratic Party was born, and was elected to the European Parliament the same year. He was elected at the head of the assembly in 2019. His term expired in January, halfway through the quinquennial legislature.