MEPs will elect EP President and 14 Vice-Presidents today; vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as Commission President on Thursday

The European Parliament was officially constituted on Tuesday in Strasbourg, following the European elections on 6-9 June.

Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT), outgoing EP President, presided over the opening of the session. Following a musical interlude, Pina Picierno (S&D, IT), second Vice-President in the outgoing Parliament, announced the candidates for the Presidency of the Parliament. The vote, a secret paper ballot, is taking place immediately after the opening. Eight MEPs elected by lot will oversee the process.

The candidates are Roberta Metsola (EPP, MT) and Irene Montero (The Left, ES). Ahead of the vote, both delivered brief statements to plenary.

To be elected, a candidate needs an absolute majority of valid votes cast, i.e. 50% plus one. If no candidate is elected in the first round of voting, the same or other candidates can be nominated for a second round under the same conditions. A third round may take place if necessary, again with the same rules. If none of the candidates are elected in the third round of voting, the two candidates with the most votes in the third round would proceed to a fourth and final round of voting, in which the candidate receiving the most votes wins.

Once elected, the new President will take the chair and may deliver an opening address.

In its tenth term, the European Parliament will have 720 seats, 15 more than at the end of the previous legislature. 54% of MEPs are newly-elected (in 2019 the share of newcomers was 61%) and the share of women is 39% (it was 40% in 2019).

Lena Schilling (Greens/EFA) from Austria (23 years old) is the youngest MEP, while Leoluca Orlando (Greens/EFA) from Italy (77 years old) is the oldest. The average age of MEPs is 50.

At the beginning of the tenth term, there are eight political groups, one more than in the previous legislature. 33 MEPs remain non-attached.