A Maltese MEP who has defended the rights of the unborn has been elected president of the European Parliament.

Roberta Metsola, 42, is the youngest ever person to be elected to the role and the third woman president.

At the start of the Covid pandemic, Ms Metsola voted against a resolution claiming that abortion is a ‘human right’.

She has also voted against an attempt to legalise abortion in Malta, the only part of the EU to uphold a complete ban.

In a 2018 speech, she said: “I am a proud Maltese Christian Democrat. I am also unashamedly a pro-life politician."

The MEP has been praised for her stance on migrants' rights, calling repeatedly for children to be better protected.

Speaking in 2018, she said: "I speak out for the unborn and I speak out also for children, fleeing hopelessness, war and famine in Syria."

“Unaccompanied children need playpens not barbed wire, they need child rights’ protection officers, respect, books and access to education".

In her role as president, she will not vote and she has vowed to respect the will of the parliament, including on abortion.