4 July

The European Parliament has elected Italian center-left politician David Sassoli as its president.

Voting took place on Wednesday in Strasbourg, France, at the first plenary session since the parliamentary election in May.

Sassoli is a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the second largest group in the European Parliament.

The 63-year-old former TV journalist has been in the EU legislature since 2009.

In the May election, center-right and center-left forces lost a significant number of seats, while liberal and green parties made gains. 

NHK