Vice President of the European Parliament

There are fourteen Vice Presidents of the European Parliament who sit in for the President in presiding over the plenary of the European Parliament.

Role

Vice Presidents are members of the Bureau and chair the plenary when the President is not in the chair. The President may also delegate any duty, task or power to one of the Vice-Presidents. Three vice presidents, designated by the Conference of Presidents, traditionally have more power than the others; the right to be on the conciliation committee.^[1]

Election

The Vice Presidents are elected following the voting for the President, which takes place every two and a half years.^[2]

There tends to be an agreement dividing up the 14 posts between the groups, and thus they are usually elected without formal opposition. However, in 2009 Edward McMillan-Scott, through the individual support of 40 MEPs, successfully challenged his party's (the European Conservatives and Reformists) formal candidate; Michał Kamiński. Having been elected and prevented the election of Kaminski, McMillan-Scott was expelled from his party and Kaminski gained the party chair.^[1]

6th parliament

30 July 2004 to 16 January 2007

Elected (unopposed) in order of precedence;

16 January 2007 to 14 July 2009

Elected (unopposed) in order of precedence;^[3]

7th parliament

14 July 2009 to present

Elected in order of precedence;^[4]

References

External links

• Rules of Procedures, Rule 14: Election of Vice-Presidents
• Rules of Procedures, Rule 20: Duties of Vice-Presidents