Schwitters is the Next President for 15 Million European Students

— I feel honored and grateful. Getting the support from unions all over Europe makes me feel humble. I will start working as soon as possible to make sure that ESU is a strong and clear voice of the European students in the upcoming year, Helge Schwitters says to Khrono.

He was elected president for the European Students’ Union (ESU) Thursday afternoon, running unopposed, becoming the first Norwegian ESU President ever.

Schwitters is from Oslo, Norway, and he has two periods as international officer in National Union of Students Norway (NSO) behind him. Before that he was a student representative on the board of the University of Oslo (UiO) and part of the Student Parliament executive committee, and UiO is where he got his bachelor’s degree in political science.

Read: Running for president for 15 million students in ESU

Praised sitting President

Helge Schwitters was the only candidate for the presidency, and was elected at the ESU board meeting in Malta, by representatives from all the member organizations.

In addition to the president there will be elected two vice presidents, also full time positions, as well as seven executive committee members.

As for the work of sitting president, Swiss Lea Meister, Schwitters had only good things to say mid April:

— She has been hard working, great at analyzing and communicating ESU’s policies, and I want to continue this trend, he said, however:

— Though, I do not want to copy their approach, I will mold the position to my strengths and how I want to work.