European Parliament to vote for new president

Electoral campaigns have been underway in Strasbourg on Monday evening as the European Parliament, meeting for its first plenary session of the new year, prepares to vote Tuesday for a new president.

As of Monday evening, seven Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have confirmed their candidacies to replace outgoing President Martin Schulz.

It included Eleonora Forenza, European United Left-Nordic Green Left Group (Italy), Jean Lambert, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Britain), Gianni Pittella, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Group (Italy).

Among the candidates there were also Laurentiu Rebega, Europe of Nations and Freedom Group (Romania),

Helga Stevens, European Conservatives and Reformists Group (Belgium), Antonio Tajani, European People's Party Group (Italy),and Guy Verhofstadt, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (Belgium).

Announcing the presidential hopefuls on Monday evening, President Schulz told the plenary that the procedure would begin at 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday with three-minute presentations from each candidate, even though there will be no debate.

In a show of prudence, he encouraged MEPs to bring their parliamentary identification cards, so as to avoid conflicts if all 751 members decided to attend the vote.

A candidate would be able to win in the first round of voting, if he or she earns an absolute majority of the votes (50 percent+1), with blank or spoiled ballots not counted.

Second and third voting rounds can be conducted in the case of no outright winner, with the same or new candidates being introduced. If no winner has been selected, a fourth round will elect a president by simple majority from the two candidates who had the highest number of votes in the third round. In the case of an even tie, the older candidate will win.
 [china.org.cn/Xinhua]
17/1/17
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