![David Sassoli, European Union parliament president, dies at age 65](https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/CP144783521-e1641882716505.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&w=720&h=379&crop=1)
David Sassoli, European Union parliament president, dies at age 65
Global News
Sassoli had been hospitalized since Dec. 26 due to abnormal functioning of his immune system, his spokesperson said in a statement released the day before Sassoli's death.
David Sassoli, the Italian journalist who worked his way up in politics and became president of the European Union’s parliament, died at a hospital in Italy early Tuesday, his spokesperson said.
No details were provided in a tweet by spokesperson Roberto Cuillo. Sassoli, a socialist, had been hospitalized since Dec. 26 due to abnormal functioning of his immune system, Cuillo said in a statement released the day before Sassoli’s death.
“This hospitalization was necessary because of a serious complication due to a dysfunction of the immune system,” the statement said.
Sassoli had been struggling for months with poor health yet stayed on the job, where his vigor and easy smile were a trademark.
Sassoli came to lead the legislature in 2019 following an intricate bout of political infighting among EU leaders which also saw German Christian Democrat Ursula von der Leyen become EU Commission President and Belgian free-market liberal Charles Michel take the job as EU Council president.
“I am deeply saddened by the terrible loss of a great European & proud Italian,” von der Leyen said on Twitter. “David Sassoli was a compassionate journalist, an outstanding President of the European Parliament and, first & foremost, a dear friend.”