2022 calendar of political events

As a turbulent year draws to a close, so too does the current government’s term in office. IVAN MARTIN looks at some of the political choices that lie ahead in 2022.

Maltese MEP for president?

As the new year dawns, Roberta Metsola will find out if she will become the first Maltese national to be appointed to a major EU position when a new president of the European Parliament is elected in two weeks’ time.

If she secures the appointment, she will take over the presidency from David Sassoli of the Socialists and Democrats grouping in the parliament. It would be the most prestigious European political office ever held by a Maltese national.

In November, Metsola was selected to be the candidate for the position by her European People’s Party (EPP), comfortably beating two other candidates for the nomination, Austrian Othmar Karas and Dutch Esther de Lange.

Historically, the presidency rotates between the EPP and S&D groupings. While the S&D has said that it will not field a candidate, it has not said that its MEPs will back Metsola. 

S&D leader Iratxe García Perez said the group will be organising a hearing in the second week of January to grill Metsola, before deciding on its...