Death of European Parliament President David Sassoli

Summary:

Information Guide concerning the death of the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli on 11 January 2022.

Further information:

David Sassoli passed away at the age of 65 on 11 January 2022, after being admitted to hospital in Italy on 26 December 2021 following a dysfunction of his immune system. In September 2021, Mr Sassoli was had already been taken to hospital in France where he was treated for pneumonia caused by legionella. He later suffered a relapse while recovering in Italy. He eventually resumed his political duties in November.

The former journalist took over the presidency of the European Parliament in 2019 after becoming an S&D MEP in 2009. His term as speaker of the chamber was due to end later in January. The funeral was held on 14 January 2022 in Rome. A memorial ceremony for David Sassoli was held in the European Parliament on 17 January.

Official

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen on the passing of David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament (11 January 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_22_301

European Parliament: Press Release, 11/01/2022: President Sassoli to be honoured in Plenary https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220111IPR20708/

Irish Government: Department of Foreign Affairs: Press Release, 11/01/2022: Statement by Minister Coveney on death of David Sassoli https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/de279-statement-by-minister-coveney-on-death-of-david-sassoli/

UK Parliament: Lord Speaker statement following the death of President of the European Parliament David Sassoli (11 January 2022) https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2022/january-2022/lord-speaker-statement-following-the-death-of-president-of-the-european-parliament-david-sassoli/

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 11/01/2022: S&Ds mourn David Sassoli, and continue with the negotiations to elect the Parliament’s president for the second half of the mandate https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/sds-mourn-david-sassoli-and-continue-negotiations-elect-parliaments-president-second-half

EPP EP Group: Newsroom, 11/01/2022: David Sassoli was a true European and passionate ambassador of a more united and social Europe https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/david-sassoli-was-a-true-european

United Nations, 11/01/2022: David Sassoli embodied and defended the values of the UN https://unric.org/en/david-sassoli-embodied-and-defended-the-values-of-the-un/

Italian Government: Presidency of the Council of Ministers: Prime Minister Draghi’s address to Parliament at the commemorations for David Sassoli (11 January 2022) https://www.governo.it/it/node/18981

European Parliament: Press Release, 14/01/2022: Funeral service of President David Sassoli https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20220114IPR21001/

S&D EP Group: Newsroom, 14/01/2022: In memoriam David Sassoli https://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/memoriam-david-sassoli

European Commission: Speech by President von der Leyen on the occasion of the memorial ceremony for President David Maria Sassoli (17 January 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_392

European Council: Speech by President Charles Michel at the ceremony in honour of David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament (17 January 2022) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/01/17/discours-du-president-charles-michel-lors-de-la-ceremonie-en-hommage-a-david-sassoli-president-du-parlement-europeen/

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News

Euronews, 20/09/2021: President of EU Parliament David Sassoli in hospital with pneumonia https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/20/president-of-eu-parliament-david-sassoli-in-hospital-with-pneumonia

Politico, 20/09/2021: EU Parliament President Sassoli in hospital with pneumonia https://www.politico.eu/article/parliament-president-sassoli-in-hospital-with-pneumonia/

Politico, 30/09/2021: David Sassoli on the mend, will not chair Strasbourg session https://www.politico.eu/article/david-sassoli-is-still-recovering-and-will-not-chair-strasbourg-session/

EurActiv, 09/11/2021: European Parliament president knocked down by Legionnaires’ disease https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/european-parliament-president-catches-legionella-bacteria/

Politico, 09/11/2021: EU Parliament chief David Sassoli pledges to return after medical ‘tests’ https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-parliament-president-david-sassoli-tests-pneumonia/

Euronews, 09/11/2021: David Sassoli absent in EU Parliament due to Legionnaires' disease https://www.euronews.com/2021/11/09/david-sassoli-absent-in-eu-parliament-due-to-legionnaires-disease

BBC News, 11/01/2022: David Sassoli: Flags lowered for EU parliament leader https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59947211

The Guardian, 11/01/2022: David Sassoli, European parliament president, dies aged 65 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/11/david-sassoli-european-parliament-president-dies-aged-65

Politico, 11/01/2022: European Parliament President David Sassoli dies aged 65 https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-president-david-sassoli-dies-aged-65/

Euronews, 11/01/2022: David Sassoli: European Parliament President dies at 65 after period of poor health https://www.euronews.com/2022/01/11/david-sassoli-european-parliament-president-dies-at-65-spokesman-says

France24, 11/01/2022: EU parliament president David Sassoli dies in Italian hospital https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220111-eu-parliament-president-david-sassoli-dies-after-hospitalisation

EurActiv, 11/01/2022: European Parliament President David Sassoli dies https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/european-parliament-president-david-sassoli-dies/

Deutsche Welle, 11/01/2022: European Parliament President David Sassoli dies after hospitalization https://p.dw.com/p/45Miy

RTÉ News, 11/01/2022: European Parliament President David Sassoli dies aged 65 https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2022/0111/1272940-david-sassoli/

Kathimerini, 11/01/2022: President, PM ‘shocked,’ ‘saddened’ by death of David Sassoli https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1175293/pm-president-socked-saddened-by-death-of-david-sassoli/

RFI News, 11/01/2022: Tributes pour in following death of EU parliament president David Sassoli https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20220111-heartfelt-tributes-following-death-of-eu-parliament-president-david-sassoli

Politico, 12/01/2022: German far-right MEP gloats over David Sassoli’s death https://www.politico.eu/article/german-far-right-mep-gloats-over-david-sassolis-death/

Politico, 14/01/2022: European leaders grieve for David Sassoli at state funeral in Rome https://www.politico.eu/article/european-leaders-grieve-david-sassoli-state-funeral-rome-italy/

EurActiv, 14/01/2022: Italy pays respect to EU parliament chief Sassoli ahead of state funeral https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/italy-pays-respect-to-eu-parliament-chief-sassoli-ahead-of-state-funeral/

France24, 14/01/2022: EU leaders mourn speaker Sassoli at Rome funeral https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220114-eu-leaders-mourn-speaker-sassoli-at-rome-funeral

Euronews, 17/01/2022: EU leaders remember David Sassoli's 'strong convictions' in tribute https://www.euronews.com/2022/01/17/eu-leaders-remember-david-sassoli-s-ideals-and-kindness-in-tribute

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Commentary and Analysis

Bloomberg: Profile: David Sassoli https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/18809906

Wikipedia: David Sassoli https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sassoli

EurActiv: Opinion, 11/01/2022: David Sassoli: A great pro-European and a great president of European Parliament https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/opinion/david-sassoli-a-great-pro-european-and-a-great-president-of-the-european-parliament/

Euronews, 13/01/2022: What happens now after the death of David Sassoli? https://www.euronews.com/2022/01/13/what-happens-now-after-the-death-of-david-sassoli

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ESO Records

Election for the Presidency of the European Parliament (2022) https://www.europeansources.info/record/election-for-the-presidency-of-the-european-parliament-2022/

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