On Tuesday MEPs elected the 14 vice-presidents for the first half of the 10th parliamentary term.
Eleven vice-presidents, including the Spanish Esteban González Pons (EPP) and Javi López (S&D), were appointed by secret ballot in a first round, and the remaining three in a second round.
The new Vice-Presidents are:
Sabine Verheyen (EPP, Germany)
Ewa Kopacz (EPP, Poland)
Esteban Gonzalez Pons (EPP, Spain)
Katarina Barley (S&D, Germany)
Pina Picierno (S&D, Italy)
Victor Negrescu (S&D, Romania)
Martin Hojsik (Renew, Slovakia)
Christel Schaldemose (S&D, Denmark)
Javi López (S&D, Spain)
Sophie Wilmès (Renew, Belgium)
Nicolae Stefanuta (Greens/EFA, Romania)
Roberts Zīle (ECR, Latvia)
Antonella Sberna (ECR, Italy)
Younous Omarjee (The Left, France)
The election of the five Quaestors will take place on Wednesday.
Powers of the Vice-Presidents and Quaestors
The fourteen Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors, together with the President, form the Bureau of Parliament. The Bureau lays down the rules for the smooth running of Parliament. Among other things, it draws up Parliament’s preliminary draft budget and decides on administrative, staffing and organisational matters.
The President assigns specific tasks to each Vice-President and Quaestor. In addition to their own duties, the Vice-Presidents may deputise for the President, including during plenary sittings and in representing Parliament at specific ceremonies or events, where necessary.
The Quaestors deal with administrative matters directly affecting the Members themselves, and are members of the Bureau in an advisory capacity.
In electing the members of the Bureau, the political groups ensure that the composition of the Bureau reflects the composition of the Parliament and the size of the groups, as well as having the result of the election of the presidency.a.
Election procedure
Parliament’s Rules of Procedure lay down the procedure for electing the members of the Bureau. As for the election of the presidency, nominations must be submitted by a political group or by at least one twentieth of the members of the House.
The Vice-Presidents are elected in the same ballot, by an absolute majority of the votes cast. If the number of nominated candidates is less than fourteen, a second round of voting shall be held, according to the same rules. If a third round of voting is necessary, only a simple majority is required. The protocol order of the Vice-Presidents is assigned on the basis of the order in which they are elected and, in the event of a tie, on the basis of age.
The same procedure applies for the election of the quaestors.
Further information:European Parliament
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