On Tuesday, 18 January, the European Parliament (EP) plans to elect a new president for the next two and a half years, as confirmed by EP press-secretary in Latvia Jānis Krastiņš.
As it is known, the previous EP President David Sassoli died several days before the end of his term.
Krastiņš reports that political groups or a group of MEPs that meets the so-called mandatory minimum (36 out of 705 of MEPs) can pick candidates. The EP President is elected through an absolute majority of valid votes, which are submitted sealed. Voting will be held remotely during the pandemic.
So far four MEPs have announced their candidacy: Roberta Metsola from the European People’s Party, Alice Kuhnke from the Green and European Fee Union Alliance, Kosma Zlotowski from European Conservatives and Reformist Group, and Sira Rego from Left Group.
Latvian MEP Sandra Kalniete told LTV that the European People’s Party, liberals and social democrats have reached an agreement on support for Metsola.
Kalniete said welcomes Metsola as a candidate, since she is a woman and she represents a small country that joined the EU in 2004. Kalniete believes Metsola understands the problems experienced by Baltic States very well.
If none of the candidates receive an absolute majority of votes in the first stage of elections, the same or other candidates will be allowed to be proposed for the second or third election stage. If no candidate is picked in the third attempt either, two candidates who will have received the most votes will run in the fourth, last vote. Whoever receives the most votes, will win the election.
During the January’s plenary meeting it is also planned to approve the composition of the European Parliament until the end of its current term.
All posts represented in the European Parliament – EP President, Vice-Presidents, Quaestors, Committee and Delegation Chairs and Vice-Presidents – are re-elected once in two and a half years: at the start of their five-year term and its middle.
Krastiņš noted that the EP President has wide management and representational authority as provided by EP Rules of Procedure, as well as authority needed to manage EP discussions and ensure their successful completion.
BNN previously reported that the previous EP President David Sassoli passed away in a hospital in Italy on 11 January. His death was confirmed by his press representative.
Read also: European Parliament President dies aged 65
European Parliament announces plans to elect a new president
