Tributes paid to 'popular and impactful' European Parliament President David Sassoli

News presenter David Sassoli poses for a photograph during the presentation of the Italian state-owned TV channel Rai 1's news programs, in Rome, Nov. 26, 2007. Sassoli, the Italian journalist who worked his way up in politics while defending the downtrodden and repressed to become president of the European Union’s parliament, died at a hospital in Italy early Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, his spokesperson said. (Cosima Scavolini/LaPresse via AP)

Tributes have been paid to the "popular and impactful" European Parliament President David Sassoli, who has died aged 65.

Mr Sassoli, a former journalist, had been hospitalised since December 26 due to abnormal functioning of his immune system.