More than a year before the European Parliament presidency is due for renewal, the two dominant blocs in the chamber—the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists & Democrats (S&D)—have opened a new political front. EPP leader Manfred Weber has suggested his group may not honor the agreement made at the start of the legislature, which entailed handing over the presidency to the Socialists in 2027. Instead, he hinted at support for a potential third term for the current president, Malta’s Roberta Metsola.
The pact between the EPP and S&D, sealed after the 2024 European elections, was crucial in securing Ursula von der Leyen’s re-election as President of the European Commission and ensuring Metsola’s continuity at the helm of the European Parliament. Breaking—or even questioning—that deal would mark a significant shift in the traditional cooperation between these two dominant forces in European politics, who have historically alternated power with support from liberals, greens, and the far left.
“We have eighteen months ahead, and the EPP wants to focus on legislation; the Socialists only care about power positions,” Weber warned during a press conference in Strasbourg. Ironically, that criticism could apply to him as well, given his role as head of the largest group. In his view, Europe’s Socialists “have not proven to be reliable partners,” a statement that marks a turning point in the relationship between the two blocs, the long-standing pillars of the EU consensus.
The Bavarian leader did not rule out backing a third term for Metsola, whom he described as “a great President of the European Parliament, respected by all.” His comments have reignited speculation about Metsola’s potential continuation beyond 2027, even though no one has ever served three consecutive terms in the position.
Iratxe García, head of the S&D group and a Spanish MEP, responded cautiously. She emphasized that her party is “focused on legislative work” and avoided a confrontation, though she warned: “When the time comes, we’ll see who keeps their word and honors the agreements.”
This rising tension comes amid a shifting political landscape, following European elections that bolstered conservative, sovereignist, and patriotic parties. Any breach of the EPP-S&D pact would strike a blow to institutional stability and could pave the way for new alliances between the EPP and groups such as the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) or Patriots for Europe (PfE)—although, for now, that remains more of an aspiration than a reality.
The battle for control of the European Parliament highlights the erosion of institutional bipartisanship in Brussels. For decades, conservatives and socialists shared power in a stable rotation, but the rise of reformist right-wing parties and critics of EU bureaucracy has upended the rules of the game—shaking a bureaucratic class long accustomed to operating in a bubble of opacity.
If Weber ultimately decides to abandon the pact, the Parliament could shift toward a new power balance more aligned with conservative priorities: security, industry, energy sovereignty, and migration control. This would reflect the demands of many disillusioned European voters who are calling for a less ideologically driven and more pragmatic Eurochamber.
For now, President Metsola remains silent. In July, she remained silent on whether she would return to national politics in Malta, but did not dismiss the possibility of continuing to lead the institution.
