Petra Bayr Elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Addressing the geopolitical climate, Bayr specifically evoked the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, describing it as an attack on the very foundations of human rights and the European peace order.

RMN News Political Desk
New Delhi | January 27, 2026

STRASBOURG – On January 26, 2026, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) elected Petra Bayr as its new President. Bayr, an Austrian representative belonging to the Socialists, Democrats and Greens group, secured the position in the first round of voting with an absolute majority of 164 votes, defeating Victoria Tiblom of Sweden, who received 50 votes.

A Historic Election

Petra Bayr’s election marks several milestones for the assembly. She is the 36th President of PACE and only the fifth woman to hold the office since its inception. Furthermore, she is the third Austrian national to lead the body, following in the footsteps of Peter Schieder and Karl Czernetz. Bayr, who has been a member of the Parliamentary Assembly since 2018, succeeds Theodoros Rousopoulos of Greece. Her term of office is set for one year and is renewable once.

Defending Democracy and Human Rights

In her inaugural address, President Bayr delivered a powerful message regarding the current state of global affairs, asserting that the Council “must never be silent in the face of injustice”. She emphasized that democratic achievements are currently under “increasing pressure” and praised the European Convention on Human Rights as a “living instrument that affects real lives”.

Bayr outlined a vision for a Europe where:

• Women live free from violence and remain economically and politically independent.
• Linguistic and cultural minorities are protected across all member states.
• Freedom of expression exists without fear of censorship.
• Equal access to education is guaranteed for all.

The Strength of Law over Force

Addressing the geopolitical climate, Bayr specifically evoked the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, describing it as an attack on the very foundations of human rights and the European peace order. She declared that the Council of Europe would continue to stand firmly for international law and territorial integrity, stating, “The strength of law – not the law of the strong – must prevail”.

Future Outlook and Citizen Engagement

Looking forward, President Bayr expressed a strong desire to bridge the gap between the Council of Europe and its citizens, with a particular focus on engaging young people. She aims to enhance the organization’s visibility and political impact through more strategic co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Secretary General. “Together, we can strengthen coherence, visibility and political impact,” she concluded.