In Italy, an illness has ended the life of one of EU’s highest officials, President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, Belgian news portal EurActiv reports.
The Italian politician, 65, had been in hospital since December 26, where he was undergoing treatment against a dysfunction of his immune system. Earlier, he had been admitted to hospital with pneumonia caused by Legionnaires disease, where he was hospitalised for several weeks. Sassoli passed away at 1.15am on the night to Tuesday, January 11, according to his spokesperson Roberto Cuillo.
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The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated on Twitted on Tuesday: «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!»
David Sassoli is known in Italy mostly for his decades-long work as a journalist. Elected in 2019 as president, a role similar to that of speaker in a national parliament, his two-and-a-half-year mandate was dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, EurActiv reports.
European Parliament President dies aged 65
