Strasbourg, 16/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Tuesday 17 January, MEPs will vote to elect the person who will replace Jerzy Buzek (EPP, Poland) as president of the European Parliament (EP) after two and a half years of this parliament. Buzek's successor will hold the post until the next European elections, in 2014. Three candidates are in the running: Diana Wallis (ALDE, UK) and her fellow Briton Nirj Deva (ECR), and run-away favourite Martin Schulz (S&D, Germany). In addition to the support of his own group, Schulz is also likely to be able to count on the support of the EPP Group, as there is an agreement between the two largest groups to support one another's candidates and so to alternate the presidency of the EP between the two.
Fifty-six year old Schulz came to prominence in 2003 after an altercation with Silvio Berlusconi, who likened him to the head of a crime syndicate. The following year, 2004, he became the leader of the Socialist Group. He has been an MEP since 1994, speaks three languages (German, French and English) and is a “committed European”, Green MEP Daniel Cohn-Bendit is quoted by AFP as saying. Cohn-Bendit is “sure” that Schulz will be fully able to “defend the Community method against member states' attempts to repatriate powers”. Schulz himself has promised to “fight” member states to reaffirm the Parliament's powers and to “reduce the EU's democratic deficit”. He is, however, a candidate who is respected by many, but also feared because of his strong character, and can also annoy with his pointed remarks.
While there is little doubt as to the outcome of the election, the procedure will take place officially in the morning of Tuesday 17 January. Eight ballot boxes will be set out in the Chamber and MEPs will vote in a secret ballot. “In the first three rounds of voting, to be elected, 50%, plus one, of the valid votes cast are needed”, noted the EP spokesman. It might very well be, however, that only one round will be needed. Once elected, and once power has been passed over by Jerzy Busek, the new president's first task will be to face journalists for his first official press conference as the president.
MEPs will also elect 14 vice-presidents and also quaestors by secret ballot in voting on Tuesday and, if necessary, Wednesday. These may be confirmed in their posts for a second term of office of two and a half years. With it being possible to submit candidacies for vice-president posts until 6.00pm on Tuesday 17, there is a chance, the spokesman said, of there being more than 14 candidates and so several rounds of voting.
During the week beginning 23 January, but in Brussels this time, MEPs will elect the chairs and deputy chairs of each of the permanent committees. Once again, those in post can be re-elected for a further term of office. The inter-parliamentary delegations will also be required to re-elect their bureaux. (CG/transl.rt)