And you? If you were a member of the European Parliament which candidate you would choose?
[socialpoll id=”2411559″]On 17th January, members of the European Parliament will choose their new president from these six candidates.
Notwithstanding the candidates of the minority groups, it’s likely to be a race between three centrists. On the center right, Antonio Tajani, on the center left, Gianni Pittella, and finally Guy Verhofstadt, who has confirmed his bid only this morning.
Conservatives, Socialists, Liberals. Three blocks, and for the first time in a while, it’s an open race.
Under parliamentary rules, to be elected president a candidate must win an absolute majority of the votes cast, which means 50 percent plus one. The European Parliament is comprised of 751 members, so 376 votes are needed to win the presidency. Currently, the EPP holds 216 seats, while the S&D has 189, the European Conservatives and Reformists have 74 and ALDE has 69.
Smaller parties and non-affiliated MEPs make up the balance.
