Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 18 January 2012 - Strasbourg

20. Election of the Quaestors of Parliament (continuation)

  President. − I will now announce the results of the first ballot in the election of the Quaestors.

Votes cast: 684

Invalid votes: 15

Valid votes cast: 669

Therefore, the absolute majority required in the first ballot is 335 votes.

I will now read out the results.

Ms Geringer de Oedenberg: 237 votes

Mr HIGGINS: 284 votes

Mr Liberadzki: 222 votes

Ms LULLING: 297 votes

Mr Maštálka: 232 votes

Mr Newton Dunn: 177 votes

Mr SPERONI: 106 votes

None of the candidates has received the absolute majority of the votes cast. Therefore, all five seats remain unfilled and a second ballot is needed. I assume that all the candidates for the office of Quaestor wish to continue their candidacy. Is there anyone who wishes to withdraw his or her candidacy? No one wishes to do this, so we will move on to a second ballot with all these candidates.

I propose that we use the electronic voting system in this second ballot.

(Applause)

(The President gives detailed information about the technical process involved in electronic voting, followed by a test vote.)

(The second ballot for the office of Quaestor is held.)

I will now announce the result of the vote:

Votes cast: 593. The absolute majority is 297. No one has achieved the absolute majority.

Ms LULLING: 280 votes

Mr HIGGINS: 263 votes

Ms Geringer de Oedenberg: 234 votes

Mr Maštálka: 226 votes

Mr Liberadzki: 209 votes

Mr Newton Dunn: 170 votes

Mr SPERONI: 114 votes

Therefore, we now need a third ballot where a simple majority applies. I have just been informed that the third ballot will take place this evening at 20:00.

(Protests in the Chamber)

I propose that we hold the vote now.

(Agreement in the Chamber).

The third ballot will now take place. The vote can begin once all the candidates have stated that they wish to continue their candidacy. Would anyone like to withdraw? Everyone is continuing their candidacy.

(The third ballot for the office of Quaestor is held.)

I will now announce the result of the vote:

Votes cast: 600. The majority is therefore 301, but it is no longer required.

Ms LULLING: 273 votes

Mr HIGGINS: 254 votes

Ms Geringer de Oedenberg: 235 votes

Mr Liberadzki: 216 votes

Mr Maštálka: 207 votes

Mr Newton Dunn: 182 votes

Mr SPERONI: 104 votes

The following Members have been elected: Ms Lulling, Mr Higgins, Ms Geringer de Oedenberg, Mr Liberadzki and Mr Maštálka.

Does anyone who has been elected not accept the election? Everyone accepts it. I would like to congratulate all those who have been elected. I would also like to say that the Bureau of the European Parliament has now been fully elected and that we will constitute it as quickly as possible.