Strasbourg, 01/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - At the opening of the plenary session on Tuesday 1 July, the German MEP Martin Schulz was elected President of the European Parliament for two and a half years. He therefore returns to the post he has occupied since January 2012. An MEP since 1994, Schulz was received 409 votes of the 612 votes cast at the first round (out of 723), with 101 for Sajjad Karim (ECR) and, with 51 votes each, Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/EFA) and Pablo Iglesias (GUE/NGL). Although this is a high score, it is less than the total number of MEPs in the S&D-EPP-ALDE coalition, who supported Schulz by agreement, equivalent to 479 votes. A secret vote was held, with ballot boxes. For the first time, a Parliament President has been returned for a second term.
The other candidates speak out against agreement behind closed doors
Schulz's absence from a debate held the day before by European Voice between the candidates for the Presidency of the EP was seized upon eagerly by his detractors, who spoke out against an agreement behind closed doors. On Monday evening, Lunacek explained that she had decided to stand to take over from Schulz after she heard German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Minister for the Economy Sigmar Gabriel say that they thought “that the EP should elect Martin Schulz”. “It's up to us to decide, not the Council”, she said. “We shouldn't have to face a foregone conclusion”, she said before the vote. He “wants to be President of the EP, but does not want to engage in a debate for the job”, added Pablo Iglesias, GUE/NGL candidate, on Monday evening.
Commenting on the low turnout rate in the elections, Sajjad Karim criticised the fact that those “who failed to obtain a majority of the minority (Ed: of the voters) say that they can meet in a room” and conclude an agreement. “What have we become if the Presidency of this house - an office which should rise above party politics and ordinary political ambition - is reduced to nothing more than currency? A counter in a game? A booby prize for failing to win a consolation prize? Plan D in a political arena in which plans A, B and C have failed?” stressed Karim in his speech before the vote, pointing out that Schulz had been a candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission. Philippe Lamberts, co-President of the Greens, confirmed that his group had not been invited to discuss a coalition during talks which seemed to focus “more on posts than on plans”.
Schulz took pains to clarify the agreement made in Berlin between Merkel's CDU party and the SPD of which he is a member. He explained that the discussions focused on the next German commissioner, and that the CDU confirmed that it wished to put forward its candidate. The chancellor therefore decided to make a proposal to her delegation to the EP, as president of the CDU, to vote for Schulz, if the Socialists put him forward as president. “I do not believe that Dr Merkel gives orders to the Portuguese MEPs”, Schulz joked. When asked about the terms of the agreement with the ALDE, Schulz said that “the Liberals support the proposals of both groups”, and “we support the Liberals' proposals for posts here at the EP”.
Need for political change
Thanking everyone who voted for him for the “trust shown”, Schulz announced his priorities, which are worthy of a Commission president's speech. He stressed that he expected Jean-Claude Juncker, the person nominated by the Council to lead the European Commission, to take account of the “increased power” of the European Parliament and to “enter into dialogue with the European Parliament before the Commission even uses its right of initiative”. “Across the groups, we all agree that there is a need for a political change, there is a need for justice for people and for businesses”, he stated after his election. He put forward a long list of duties for the European Parliament, such as working on the TTIP agreement with the United States, on migration, developing an independent energy policy, fighting climate change, etc. “I am human, I am fallible, I have qualities and faults, I ask you to trust me, to give me all of your trust, the Parliament needs to be the centre of the democratic debate”, Schulz argued before the vote. “Anybody who does not respect the rules will be answering to me, I will not accept it. Let us try to work in a spirit of collegiality. Let us hold constructive talks”, he announced.
A good sport, Lunacek, and her group, congratulated Schulz on his re-election, but lamented the “excessive interference of the governments of the EU in the process of selecting the President of the directly-elected legislative assembly of the EU”. The Greens/EFA Group is looking forward to working with the president of the Parliament and stresses the role of this institution in European democracy and in restoring public trust in the EU and its institutions. “Martin Schulz must prioritise bringing back public trust in an open, transparent, greener and more ethical European Parliament, which genuinely represents the citizens of the EU and defends democracy and human rights at EU level”, Lunacek told EUROPE. “With the governments of the EU looking for every opportunity to undermine the role of the EP, the only directly elected institution, the European Parliament and its president must remain on their feet for them”, she added.
Karim spoke to EUROPE about his regrets that there had been “very little appreciation” within the EU of the sentiments of the voters, who sent a “very clear message that they wanted to see a change of direction, of approach, that they wanted to see new faces, new ideas, in order to face the new challenges”. This house's response is to vote in and to give the citizens the same thing. He feels that the Europeans lose out from this. He added that he was happy to be working with Schulz again. Iglesias congratulated Schulz on his election “by a large majority”, but regretted that his election had highlighted the pact between the principal political groups. “I do not feel that this is good news for the European citizen”, he said.
Eurosceptics already getting themselves noticed
The opening of this eighth legislative period, where more than half of the MEPs - 396/751 - were not members during the previous term, was marked by acts of defiance by the Eurosceptics. Several MEPs, including the leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, turned their backs when the European anthem was playing in the chamber. Others remained seated during the anthem.
The MEPs were also to elect their 14 vice-presidents by secret ballot, firstly using ballot boxes, and then by electronic secret voting (see other article). The Quaestors will be elected on 2 July. The new vice-president of the S&D, who will replace Schulz, was due to be elected on the evening of 1 July. (EL and CG)