European Parliament President David Sassoli has been hospitalized in Italy because of immune system dysfunction, his spokesman Roberto Cuillo said.

Sassoli has been in the hospital since December 26, and hospitalization was necessary because of a serious complication related to immune system dysfunction, the statement said.

Sassoli, 65, suffered a severe form of pneumonia in September during a plenary session of parliament and was hospitalized. He returned to Italy to recover but suffered a relapse that left him unable to perform his duties for some time.