14/01/2025 (Agence Europe) – The former Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, was unanimously elected Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party in Brussels on Tuesday 14 January. Mr Morawiecki succeeds the President of the Italian Council, Giorgia Meloni, to whom he paid a warm tribute, speaking to the press. Three vice-presidents were also elected: Italy’s Carlo Fidanza (Fratelli d’Italia), France’s Marion Maréchal (Identité-Liberté) and Romania’s George Simion (Alliance for the Union of Romanians). Mr Morawiecki insisted on defending the sovereignty of Member States and against transferring more powers to the Commission. He also stressed the importance of transatlantic relations, as he is due to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States next week. He also praised freedom of speech and Elon Musk. (SP)