Ukrainian delegation representative: Austrian representative Petra Bayr likely to become new PACE president

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25.01.2026 13:45

Ukrinform

For the first time in many years, a woman may become the new president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The leading candidate to replace Theodoros Rousopoulos is Petra Bayr, an Austrian Social Democratic Party representative.

This was announced by Yevheniia Kravchuk, a member of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE and the Ukrainian parliament, in a comment to a Ukrinform correspondent.

"The election of the new PACE president is certainly the most important event of this session. And it is already clear that for the first time in many years, it will be a female president. The main candidate who is most likely to win is Petra Bayr, a representative of Austria from the Socialist and Democrat Group," Kravchuk said.

According to her, many members of the Ukrainian delegation signed in support of this particular candidate to replace the current PACE President, Theodoros Rousopoulos. Bayr's candidacy also has the support of the majority of Assembly members.

"Bayr is the chair of the Committee on the Election of Judges to the ECHR, as well as the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian Parliament. During the war, she visited Ukraine several times, not only in Kyiv, but also in Kharkiv. So, for many years, the Ukrainian delegation has been working closely with her and has good contact with her, seeing her interest and involvement," explained a member of our delegation.

At the same time, another candidate for the presidency is the independent European Conservatives, Patriots & Affiliates, Swedish MP Victoria Tiblom.

“But in any case, elections will be held on Monday, and by lunchtime, there will be a new PACE president. And we hope that whatever the results, the Assembly leadership will remain steadfastly on Ukraine's side,” Kravchuk concluded.

Thus, the current PACE president will step down on Monday.

Recall that Theodoros Rousopoulos, a Greek politician and member of the Greek parliament, was elected president on January 22, 2024, and in January 2025, he was re-elected for another year. This is the maximum possible term of office for this position.

Since 1949, when PACE was established, about three dozen politicians have held the presidency of the Assembly, and only three times have women held the post.

Photo: Facebook / Yevheniia Kravchuk