PL MEPs Alex Agius Saliba and Daniel Attard have said that they abstained from voting in the election for the President of the European Parliament.

Metsola, representing the European People's Party, was challenged by Spanish MEP Irene Montero for the post.

PL MEP Alex Agius Saliba said that he abstained from voting in the election for the President of the European Parliament. Writing on Facebook, Agius Saliba said: "with consistency with what I always said throughout the electoral campaign, this morning I decided not to participate in the voting to elect a new European Parliament President. I could not give my support to Roberta Metsola on a number of principles that for me are too important and that Metsola acted against over the past two and a half years." In the same way, he said, the Spanish candidate has priorities that are different from his, "including that abortion be imposed as a right in every EU member state."

Daniel Attard also posted his decision on Facebook. "I am never against Malta. But I cannot vote in favour of who put their personal advancement ahead of the national interest. That is why, consistent with what I said throughout the campaign and with conviction in my principles, this morning I chose to abstain."

Agius Saliba' and Attard's decision contrast with what Prime Minister Robert Abela had expressed earlier in July.

Abela had said that despite the divergences in positions he has with Metsola, when it came to supporting her for her reappointment, national interest prevailed, and he chose to support her fully. He said that he will never express himself against fellow Maltese in the EU, but rather he would strongly support them, referring to incumbent European Parliament President Roberta Metsola's nomination.

It is not known how PL MEP Thomas Bajada voted, however he said that he will make a statement during a media session on Wednesday.