Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, French) was elected chair of the European Parliament’s special committee on the ‘European Democracy Shield’ on Monday 3 February, by 25 votes out of 33.
The other candidate, MEP António Tânger Corrêa (PfE, Portuguese), received 8 votes. “I was rejected not because of a lack of qualifications, but because of pure and simple political exclusion. (...) Democracy has not won today”, the Portuguese immediately denounced. Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, Belgian), who chaired the session until the first vote, replied: “Sir, in a democracy, you need a majority, do you know that?”.
In her first speech, Nathalie Loiseau said that the committee’s aim was “to protect our democracies when they are attacked, whatever the origin of the attacks. East, west, south, wherever they come from”, wondering whether some had wanted “to be at the table [by presenting themselves] for fear of being put on the menu”.
Csaba Molnár (S&D, Hungarian) was appointed first vice-president by 21 votes versus 11 for Fidías Panayiótou (Independent, Cypriot). Sandra Kalniete (EPP, Lithuanian), Stefano Cavadegna (ECR, Italian) and Vasile Dîncu (S&D, Romanian) were elected by acclamation second, third and fourth vice-chairs. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)