© PACE She is the fifth woman to hold this position.
Austrian delegate Petra Bair was chosen as President of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly on Monday, January 26th. This was communicated by the PACE media office.
Her tenure is for a year, with the option to renew it once. Petra Bajr secured an absolute majority in the initial ballot, gathering 164 votes compared to 50 for the other contender, Victoria Thiblom from Sweden.
In this role, Bair will succeed the Greek representative, Theodoros Roussopoulos, who has been in the position since January 2024, thereby becoming the 36th PACE President. She is the fifth female to occupy this office.
“We share a common vision of a Europe – and indeed, a world – devoid of warfare. And we are united by our collective accomplishments, our treaties, and our convictions,” the newly inaugurated president expressed in her opening address.
She emphasized that the Council of Europe must never be silent when confronted with injustice, especially when democratic gains face mounting pressure, and individuals are stripped of their liberty merely due to their beliefs.
“I champion linguistic and cultural minorities in each of our Member States […], all who defend their rights […], freedom of speech without censorship or intimidation […], equitable access to education […] and a Europe where women can live free from violence, possess financial independence, are politically involved and fully heard,” she appended.
Referring to Russia’s war against Ukraine, she asserted that the Council of Europe will relentlessly uphold international law, territorial sovereignty, and the negotiated resolution of disputes.
“This war represents not only an assault on national sovereignty but also an attack on international law, on the European order of peace, and fundamentally, on human rights. The rule of law – and not brute force – must take precedence,” she declared.
It’s worth recalling that in 2024, PACE acknowledged the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian populace. The document received unanimous approval.
PACE further highlights that the present aggression by Russia against Ukraine signifies a continuation of the Russian Federation’s agenda to eradicate Ukrainians. The resolution urges all governments to exert every effort to support the people of Ukraine in countering the ongoing genocidal assault on their nation and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.