Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1443447
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 JANUARY 2022 NEWS Greens-EFA - 73 MEPs European Green Party Fielding former Swedish minister Alice Bah Kuhnke at the eleventh hour, the Greens dispelled rumours they would support Metsola, but they are strongly backing a female leader for the presidency of the EP Renew - 101 MEPs Renew Europe Liberals under Macron's sway will probably support Metsola's candidature despite pro- choice sceptics inside French delegation ECR - 63 MEPs European Conservatives Eurosceptics have their own candidate, Kosma Złotowski, an MEP elect- ed in the name of right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) EPP - 175 MEPs European People's Party ID - 70 Identité et Démocratie Far-right Non-aligned - 38 of the European Parliament is clear. As President of the Par- liament my duty is to represent the view of the Parliament and if I am elected, I will do my duty as I have always done." But Maltese MEPs do have a track record of abstaining or voting against parliamentary re- ports that even hint at abortion – from resolutions on the UN's millennium development goals, to reports dealing with gender equality and access to abortion services. In fact, the European Left is proposing a feminist candidate which they insist marks a break from 'system candidates', saying Spanish MEP Sira Rego could unite both the centre-left and eco-socialist groups in the EP. GUE Co-president Manon Aub- ry added that Rego was a femi- nist candidate "marking a clear break from the system candi- dates 40 years on from the pres- idency of Simone Veil... now we have a candidate who is in favour of abortion." Otherwise, Metsola is report- ed to have convinced MEPs on the defence of rule of law, im- plementing the European Green Deal, and fundamental rights – both inside Renew and the S&D. Metsola is proposing the cre- ation of a European network of young women leaders, which would be responsible to put for- ward ideas on how to help wom- en reach leadership positions in their countries. Her experience and ability to shape transpar- ent compromises, as was the case for the Parliament's report on SLAPP proceedings against journalists, is an ace in her hand. nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt Alice Bah Kuhnke (Greens) 50, Miljöpartiet de gröna, Sweden Bah Kuhnke was a TV presenter before delving into politics. After studying po- litical science, she was eventually ap- pointed Minister of Culture and Democ- racy in 2014. She stepped down in 2019 to lead her party's list for the European elections. She held several directorships in philanthropic groups, including Save the Children Sweden and the Hela Sver- ige Foundation Roberta Metsola (EPP) 42, Partit Nazzjonalista, Malta Metsola's professional and political career has centred on the EU, hav- ing held the vice-chair and secre- tary-general positions of the European Democrat Students, studying law at the College of Europe. She was eventually voted into the European Parliament in 2013 and is vice-president of the EP Sira Rego (The Left) 48, Izquierda Unida, Spain Rego is the EP's's anti-establish- ment choice. She was formerly CEO of the Rivas-Vaciamadrid's housing council, as well as a city council- lor. A professional nutritionist and technical advisor on sustainabili- ty and agroecology, she is now a vice-president of The Left in the EP Kosma Złotowski (ECR) 58, Prawo i Sprawiedliwo, Poland Złotowski's political career spans decades. In 1994 he was elected mayor of Bydgoszcz, eventually joining the Senate of Poland. He spent three years serving as an MP before being elected MEP in 2014