Parliament elects its 14 Vice-Presidents following the election of the President of the European Parliament, Roberta METSOLA, which comprise Parliament’s Bureau. Vice-Presidents can replace the President, including to chair plenary sittings and in representing the Parliament at specific ceremonies or acts, when necessary. In practice, the political groups aim to ensure that the composition of the Bureau broadly reflects the numerical strength of the groups, taking into account also the results of the President's election. The process Parliament’s Rules of Procedure set out how Bureau members are elected.

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Election of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament - First ballot: Announcement of the results of the first ballot

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Dear Colleagues, the sitting is resumed. Can I ask you to take your seats so that I read out the results of the election of the first round for Vice Presidents.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, So the results of the election of the Vice President are as follows. Members voting: 701. Blank or void ballot papers: 36. Votes cast: 665. Therefore, the absolute majority is 333.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The votes were cast as follows. Sabine Verheyen: 604. Ewa Kopacz: 572. Esteban González Pons: 478. Katarina Barley: 450. Pina Picierno: 405. Victor Negrescu: 394. Martin Hojsík: 393. Christel Schaldemose: 378. Javi López: 377. Sophie Wilmes: 371. Nicolae Ștefănuță: 347. Antonella Sberna: 323. Roberts Zīle: 306. Younous Omarjee: 272. Klára Dostálová: 214. Fabrice Leggeri: 209. Ewa Zajaczkowska-Hernik: 102.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The following candidates have obtained an absolute majority of the votes cast: Sabine Verheyen, Ewa Kopacz, Esteban González Pons, Katarina Barley, Pina Picierno, Victor Negrescu, Martin Hojsík, Christel Schaldemose, Javi López, Sophie Wilmes, Nicolae Ștefănuță. I would like to congratulate them on their election.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, We're not ready yet. We still need to fill three seats. So three seats remain to be filled in the election of the Vice Presidents, and the second ballots will be necessary. Now, unless there are any comments, I take it that the candidates in the first ballot are still standing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Okay. If that means, if there are no comments, the candidates in the first ballot will also stand in the second ballot. The second ballot will take place at 6 p.m. and the sitting is suspended.